US10934335B2 - IL-17A-binding polypeptides - Google Patents

IL-17A-binding polypeptides Download PDF

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US10934335B2
US10934335B2 US15/538,890 US201615538890A US10934335B2 US 10934335 B2 US10934335 B2 US 10934335B2 US 201615538890 A US201615538890 A US 201615538890A US 10934335 B2 US10934335 B2 US 10934335B2
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Fredrik Frejd
Joachim Feldwisch
Susanne Klint
Lindvi Gudmundsdotter
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Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to a class of engineered polypeptides having a binding affinity for interleukin-17A (in the following referred to as IL-17A).
  • the present disclosure also relates to the use of such an interleukin-17A binding polypeptide as a diagnostic, prognostic and/or therapeutic agent.
  • the interleukin-17 (IL-17) family is a pro-inflammatory cytokine family that contributes to the pathogenesis of several inflammatory diseases.
  • a major source of IL-17 is a lineage of T cells known as T helper 17 cells (Th17 cells), which are distinct from the classical Th1 and Th2 cell subsets. Results of studies in mouse models and in humans have identified a key role of IL-17 and Th17 cells in the pathogenesis of inflammation and autoimmunity as well as in host defense against certain pathogens.
  • IL-17 and Th17 cells are considered to be interesting targets for the treatment of several chronic inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and multiple sclerosis (MS) (Miossec and Kolls, 2012, Nat Rev Drug Discov 11:763-7).
  • RA rheumatoid arthritis
  • AS ankylosing spondylitis
  • SLE systemic lupus erythematosus
  • MS multiple sclerosis
  • the disulfide-linked homodimeric cytokine IL-17A is a member of the IL-17 family, which also includes IL-17B, IL-17C, IL-17D, IL-17E and IL-17F. Within the family, IL-17A and IL-17F show the highest amino acid sequence homology to each other (50%) and they bind to the same receptors: IL-17 receptor A (IL-17RA) and IL-17 receptor C (IL-17RC). Furthermore, IL-17A can be expressed with IL-17F as a heterodimer. Although IL-17A and IL-17F share high amino acid sequence homology, they perform distinct functions.
  • IL-17A is involved in the development of autoimmunity, inflammation and tumors and also plays important roles in the host defense against bacterial and fungal infections.
  • IL-17F is mainly involved in mucosal host defense mechanisms (Iwakura et al, 2011, Immunity 34:149-62).
  • IL-17A When IL-17A is secreted, it promotes the production of a variety of proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines, antimicrobial peptides and metalloproteinases (MMPs) from fibroblast, endothelial and epithelial cells.
  • MMPs metalloproteinases
  • One important action of IL-17A is to induce granulopoiesis and neutrophil recruitment to inflammatory sites. However, if uncontrolled, this reaction may lead to chronic inflammation with tissue destruction and neovascularization (Iwakura et al. 2008, Immunol Rev 226:57-79; Reynolds et al. 2010, Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 21:413-23).
  • IL-17A is central in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, a common chronic inflammatory skin disease affecting about 2.5% of the worldwide population (reviewed in Chiricozzi and Krueger, 2013, Expert Opin. Investig. Drugs 22(8):993-1005).
  • Studies in patients with RA have shown that IL-17A positive cells are present in the inflamed synovium.
  • the clinical scores were severely aggravated by administration of IL-17A via intra-articular gene transfer (Lubberts et al. 2002, Inflamm Res 51:102-4).
  • inhibition of IL-17A with monoclonal antibodies against the ligand or the receptor protected against development and consequences of arthritis (Lubberts et al.
  • IL-17A may also be of interest in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  • COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • the number of IL-17A positive cells is increased in lung tissues from COPD patients (Chu et al. 2011, Int Immunopharmacol 11:1780-8; Di Stefano et al. 2009, Clin Exp Immunol 157:316-24).
  • IL-17RA deficient mice are resistant to the development of emphysema in a mouse model of COPD whereas overexpression of IL-17A accelerates the development of emphysema suggesting that IL-17A is sufficient to mediate this response (Chen et al. 2011, PLoS One 6:e20333; Shan et al. 2012, Sci Transl Med 4:117ra9).
  • IL-17A is sufficient to mediate this response.
  • IL-17A or its receptors Targeting of IL-17A or its receptors is the most direct way to block IL-17A-mediated functions.
  • Several biologics that neutralize IL-17A signaling are now in clinical development, including the anti-IL-17A monoclonal antibodies secukinumab and ixekizumab (Patel et al, 2013, Ann Rheum Dis 72 Suppl 2:ii116-23).
  • Secukinumab has been approved for the treatment of psoriasis and is currently investigated for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and AS.
  • Ixekizumab is currently in clinical trials for psoriasis, PsA and RA.
  • IL-17 receptor mediated signaling is also under investigation in the clinic, including the human monoclonal anti-IL-17RA antibody brodalumab for treatment of psoriasis, RA and asthma (Hu et al. 2011, Ann N Y Acad Sci 1217:60-76).
  • clinical efficacy of IL-17A-inhibition has been proven in different diseases, notably in psoriasis, and the safety profile, including phase II and phase III data, shows good tolerability for IL-17A inhibitors (Genovese et al. 2010, Arthritis Rheum 62:929-39 and Hueber et al. 2010, Sci Transl Med 2:52ra72).
  • tissue penetration rate is negatively associated with the size of the molecule, a relatively large antibody molecule inherently has poor tissue distribution and penetration capacity.
  • antibodies are widely used in a variety of routine contexts owing to high affinity and specificity to a multitude of possible antigens, such as for analytical, purification, diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, they still suffer from several drawbacks. Such drawbacks include the need for complex mammalian expression systems, aggregation tendencies, limited solubility, need to form and stably maintain disulfide bonds, and the risk of unwanted immune responses.
  • an IL-17A binding polypeptide comprising an IL-17A binding motif BM, which motif consists of an amino acid sequence selected from:
  • X 2 is selected from A, H, M and Y;
  • X 4 is selected from A, D, E, F, K, L, M, N, Q, R, S and Y;
  • X 6 is selected from A, Q and W;
  • X 7 is selected from F, I, L, M, V, W and Y;
  • X 10 is selected from A and W;
  • X 11 is selected from A, D, E, F, G, L, M, N, Q, S, T and Y;
  • X 16 is selected from N and T;
  • X 17 is selected from H, W and Y;
  • X 18 is selected from A, D, E, H and V;
  • X 20 is selected from A, G, Q, S and W;
  • X 21 is selected from A, D, E, F, H, K, N, R, T, V, W and Y;
  • X 25 is selected from A, D, E, G, H, I, L, M, N, Q, R, S, T and V;
  • X 26 is selected from K and S;
  • X 28 is selected from I, L, N and R;
  • X 29 is selected from D and R;
  • IL-17A binding polypeptides The above definition of a class of sequence related, IL-17A binding polypeptides is based on a statistical analysis of a number of random polypeptide variants of a parent scaffold, that were selected for their interaction with IL-17A in several different selection experiments.
  • the identified IL-17A binding motif, or “BM” corresponds to the target binding region of the parent scaffold, which region constitutes two alpha helices within a three-helical bundle protein domain.
  • the varied amino acid residues of the two BM helices constitute a binding surface for interaction with the constant Fc part of antibodies.
  • the random variation of binding surface residues and subsequent selection of variants have replaced the Fc interaction capacity with a capacity for interaction with IL-17A.
  • the function of any polypeptide is dependent on the tertiary structure of the polypeptide. It is therefore possible to make minor changes to the sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide without affecting the function thereof.
  • the disclosure encompasses modified variants of the IL-17A binding polypeptide, which are such that the IL-17A binding characteristics are retained.
  • an IL-17A binding polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence with 89% or greater identity to a polypeptide as defined in i).
  • the polypeptide may comprise a sequence which is at least 93%, such as at least 96% identical to a polypeptide as defined in i).
  • an amino acid residue belonging to a certain functional grouping of amino acid residues e.g. hydrophobic, hydrophilic, polar etc
  • such changes may be made in any position of the sequence of the IL-17A binding polypeptide as disclosed herein. In other embodiments, such changes may be made only in the non-variable positions, also denoted scaffold amino acid residues. In such cases, changes are not allowed in the variable positions, i.e. positions denoted with an “X” in sequence i).
  • % identity may for example be calculated as follows.
  • the query sequence is aligned to the target sequence using the CLUSTAL W algorithm (Thompson et al, Nucleic Acids Research, 22: 4673-4680 (1994)).
  • a comparison is made over the window corresponding to the shortest of the aligned sequences.
  • the shortest of the aligned sequences may in some instances be the target sequence. In other instances, the query sequence may constitute the shortest of the aligned sequences.
  • the amino acid residues at each position are compared and the percentage of positions in the query sequence that have identical correspondences in the target sequence is reported as % identity.
  • X 2 is selected from A, H and M;
  • X 4 is selected from A, D, E, F, L, M, N, Q, R and Y;
  • X 11 is selected from A, D, E, F, G, L, M, N, S, T and Y;
  • X 18 is selected from A, D, E and V;
  • X 20 is selected from A, G, Q and W;
  • X 21 is selected from E, F, H, N, R, T, V, W and Y;
  • X 25 is selected from A, D, E, G, H, I, L, N, Q, R, S, T and V;
  • X 28 is selected from I, N and R.
  • X 16 is T
  • X 17 is W
  • X 21 is selected from E, F, H, W, T and Y;
  • X 25 is selected from A, D, E, G, H, I, L, N, Q, R, S and T;
  • X 26 is K
  • X n and X m are used herein to indicate amino acids in positions n and m in the sequence i) as defined above, wherein n and m are integers indicating the position of an amino acid within sequence i) as counted from the N terminus.
  • X 3 and X 7 indicate the amino acids in positions three and seven, respectively, from the N-terminal end of sequence i).
  • polypeptides wherein X n in sequence i) is independently selected from a group of possible residues as listed in Table 1.
  • X n may be selected from any one of the listed groups of possible residues and that this selection is independent from the selection of amino acids in X m , wherein n ⁇ m.
  • any of the listed possible residues in position X n in Table 1 may be independently combined with any of the listed possible residues any other variable position in Table 1.
  • Table 1 is to be read as follows:
  • Table 1 discloses several specific and individualized embodiments of the first aspect of the present disclosure.
  • X 4 in sequence i) is selected from A, D, E, F, L, N, Q, R and Y
  • a polypeptide wherein X 4 in sequence i) is selected from D, E, N and Y.
  • one such combined embodiment is a polypeptide in which X 4 is selected from D, E, F, N, Q, R and Y, while X 7 is selected from F, V and W, and X 18 is selected from A, D, E and H, and so on.
  • sequence i) fulfills at least six of the eleven conditions I-XI:
  • sequence i) fulfills at least seven of the eleven conditions I-XI. More specifically, sequence i) may fulfill at least eight of the eleven conditions I-XI, such as at least nine of the eleven conditions I-XI, such as at least ten of the eleven conditions I-XI, such as all of the eleven conditions I-XI.
  • X 2 X 6 , X 2 X 10 or X 6 X 10 is AA.
  • X 2 X 17 , X 2 X 20 , X 6 X 17 , X 6 X 20 , X 10 X 17 or X 10 X 20 is AW.
  • X 2 X 28 , X 6 X 28 or X 10 X 28 is AR.
  • X 17 X 28 or X 20 X 28 is WR.
  • X 17 X 20 is WW.
  • sequence i) corresponds to amino acid positions 8-36 in SEQ ID NO:1-1216 presented in FIG. 1 .
  • sequence i) corresponds to the sequence from position 8 to position 36 in a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-1216.
  • sequence i) corresponds to the sequence from position 8 to position 36 in a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-66, 1200, 1206 and 1214. In one embodiment, sequence i) corresponds to the sequence from position 8 to position 36 in a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-66. In one embodiment, sequence i) corresponds to the sequence from position 8 to position 36 in a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-35. In one embodiment, sequence i) corresponds to the sequence from position 8 to position 36 in a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-27.
  • sequence i) corresponds to the sequence from position 8 to position 36 in a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-10. In one embodiment, sequence i) corresponds to the sequence from position 8 to position 36 in a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-7. In one embodiment, sequence i) corresponds to the sequence from position 8 to position 36 in a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-4. In one embodiment, sequence i) corresponds to the sequence from position 8 to position 36 in SEQ ID NO:1.
  • the BM as defined above “forms part of” a three-helix bundle protein domain. This is understood to mean that the sequence of the BM is “inserted” into or “grafted” onto the sequence of the original three-helix bundle domain, such that the BM replaces a similar structural motif in the original domain.
  • the BM is thought to constitute two of the three helices of a three-helix bundle, and can therefore replace such a two-helix motif within any three-helix bundle.
  • the replacement of two helices of the three-helix bundle domain by the two BM helices has to be performed so as not to affect the basic structure of the polypeptide.
  • the overall folding of the Ca backbone of the polypeptide according to this embodiment of the invention is substantially the same as that of the three-helix bundle protein domain of which it forms a part, e.g. having the same elements of secondary structure in the same order etc.
  • a BM according to the disclosure “forms part” of a three-helix bundle domain if the polypeptide according to this embodiment of the aspect has the same fold as the original domain, implying that the basic structural properties are shared, those properties e.g. resulting in similar CD spectra.
  • the skilled person is aware of other parameters that are relevant.
  • the IL-17A binding motif thus forms part of a three-helix bundle protein domain.
  • the BM may essentially constitute two alpha helices with an interconnecting loop, within said three-helix bundle protein domain.
  • said three-helix bundle protein domain is selected from domains of bacterial receptor proteins. Non-limiting examples of such domains are the five different three-helical domains of Protein A from Staphylococcus aureus , such as domain B, and derivatives thereof.
  • the three-helical bundle protein domain is a variant of protein Z, which is derived from domain B of staphylococcal Protein A.
  • the IL-17A binding polypeptide as disclosed herein forms part of a three-helix bundle protein domain
  • the IL-17A binding polypeptide may comprise an amino acid sequence binding module (BMod) selected from:
  • the IL-17A binding polypeptide may comprise an amino acid sequence binding module (BMod) selected from:
  • sequence iv and vi) have at least at least 87%, such as at least 89%, such as at least 91%, such as at least 93%, such as at least 95%, such as at least 97% identity to a sequence defined by iii) or v), respectively.
  • X a in sequence iii) or v) is A.
  • X a in sequence iii) or v) is S.
  • X b in sequence iii) or v) is N.
  • X b in sequence iii) or v) is E.
  • X c in sequence iii) or v) is A.
  • X c in sequence iii) or v) is S.
  • X c in sequence iii) or v) is C.
  • X d in sequence iii) or v) is E.
  • X d in sequence iii) or v) is N.
  • X d in sequence iii) or v) is S.
  • X e in sequence iii) or v) is D.
  • X e in sequence iii) or v) is E.
  • X e in sequence iii) or v) is S.
  • X d X e in sequence iii) or v) is selected from EE, ES, SD, SE and SS.
  • X d X e in sequence iii) or v) is ES.
  • X d X e in sequence iii) or v) is SE.
  • X d X e in sequence iii) or v) is SD.
  • X f in sequence iii) or v) is A.
  • X f in sequence iii) or v) is S.
  • X a is S, X b is E; X c is A and X f is A.
  • X a is S
  • X b is E
  • X c is S
  • X f is S.
  • X a is S, X b is E; X c is S and X f is A.
  • X a is S
  • X b is E
  • X c is A
  • X f is S.
  • X a is S
  • X b is E
  • X c is C
  • X f is S.
  • X a is A; X b is N; X c is A; X d X e is ND and X f is A.
  • X a is S, X b is E; X c is A; X d X e is ND and X f is A.
  • X a is A; X b is N; X c is C; X d X e is ND and X f is A.
  • X a is S
  • X b is E
  • X c is S
  • e is ND
  • X f is S.
  • X a is S, X b is E; X c is S, X d X e is ND and X f is A.
  • X a is S
  • X b is E
  • X c is C
  • e is ND
  • X f is S.
  • X a is A; X b is N; X c is A; X d X e is SE and X f is A.
  • X a is S, X b is E; X c is A; X d X e is SE and X f is A.
  • X a is A; X b is N; X c is C; X d X e is SE and X f is A.
  • X a is S
  • X b is E
  • X c is S
  • X e is SE
  • X f is S.
  • X a is S
  • X b is E
  • X c is A
  • X e is SE
  • X f is S.
  • X a is S
  • X b is E
  • X c is C
  • X e is SE
  • X f is S.
  • X a is A; X b is N; X c is A; X d X e is ES and X f is A.
  • X a is S, X b is E; X c is A; X d X e is ES and X f is A.
  • X a is A; X b is N; X c is C; X d X e is ES and X f is A.
  • X a is S
  • X b is E
  • X c is S
  • X e is ES
  • X f is S.
  • X a is S
  • X b is E
  • X c is C
  • X e is ES
  • X f is S.
  • X a is A; X b is N; X c is A; X d X e is SD and X f is A.
  • X a is S, X b is E; X c is A; X d X e is SD and X f is A.
  • X a is A; X b is N; X c is C; X d X e is SD and X f is A.
  • X a is S
  • X b is E
  • X c is S
  • X e is SD
  • X f is S.
  • X a is S
  • X b is E
  • X c is A
  • X e is SD
  • X f is S.
  • X a is S
  • X b is E
  • X c is C
  • e is SD
  • X f is S.
  • sequence iii) corresponds to the sequence from position 7 to position 55 in a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-1216. In one embodiment, sequence iii) corresponds to the sequence from position 7 to position 55 in a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-66, 1200, 1206 and 1214. In one embodiment, sequence iii) corresponds to the sequence from position 7 to position 55 in a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-66. In one embodiment, sequence iii) corresponds to the sequence from position 7 to position 55 in a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-35.
  • sequence iii) corresponds to the sequence from position 7 to position 55 in a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-27. In one embodiment, sequence iii) corresponds to the sequence from position 7 to position 55 in a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-10. In yet another embodiment, sequence iii) corresponds to the sequence from position 7 to position 55 in a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-7. In one embodiment, sequence iii) corresponds to the sequence from position 7 to position 55 in a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-4 and in another embodiment, sequence iii) corresponds to the sequence from position 7 to position 55 in SEQ ID NO:1.
  • an IL-17A binding polypeptide which comprises an amino acid sequence selected from:
  • an IL-17A binding polypeptide which comprises an amino acid sequence selected from:
  • an IL-17A binding polypeptide which comprises an amino acid sequence selected from:
  • the IL-17A binding polypeptides as defined above may for example have a sequence which is at least 88%, such as at least 90%, such as at least 92%, such as at least 94%, such as at least 96%, such as at least 98% identical to a sequence defined by vii), ix) or xi).
  • the IL-17A binding motif may form part of a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from
  • SEQID NO: 1250 ADNNFNK-[ BM ]-DPSQSANLLSEAKKLNESQAPK; 1251 ADNKFNK-[ BM ]-DPSQSANLLAEAKKLNDAQAPK; 1252 ADNKFNK-[ BM ]-DPSVSKEILAEAKKLNDAQAPK; 1253 ADAQQNNFNK-[ BM ]-DPSQSTNVLGEAKKLNESQAPK; 1254 AQHDE-[ BM ]-DPSQSANVLGEAQKLNDSQAPK; 1255 VDNKFNK-[ BM ]-DPSQSANLLAEAKKLNDAQAPK; 1256 AEAKYAK-[ BM ]-DPSESSELLSEAKKLNKSQAPK; 1257 VDAKYAK-[ BM ]-DPSQSSELLAEAKKLNDAQAPK; 1258 VDAKYAK-[ BM ]-DPSQSSELLAEAKKLNDAQAPK; 1259
  • the IL-17A binding polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence selected from:
  • the IL-17A binding polypeptides as defined above may for example have a sequence which is at least 87%, such as at least 89%, such as at least 91%, such as at least 93%, such as at least 94%, such as at least 96%, such as at least 98% identical to the sequence defined by xiii).
  • Sequence xiii) in such a polypeptide may be selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-1216.
  • sequence xiii) is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-66, 1200, 1206 and 1214.
  • sequence xiii) is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-66.
  • sequence xiii) is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-35.
  • sequence xiii) is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-27.
  • sequence xiii) is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-10.
  • sequence xiii) is selected from SEQ ID NO:1-7. In one embodiment, sequence xiii) is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-4. In one embodiment, sequence xiii) is SEQ ID NO:1.
  • the IL-17A binding polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence selected from:
  • the IL-17A binding polypeptides as defined above may for example have a sequence which is at least 87%, such as at least 89%, such as at least 91%, such as at least 93%, such as at least 94%, such as at least 96%, such as at least 98% identical to the sequence defined by xv).
  • Sequence xv) in such a polypeptide may be selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1217-1222. In one embodiment, sequence xv) is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1218-1222. In one embodiment, sequence xv) is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1219-1222. In another embodiment, sequence xv) is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1219 and SEQ ID NO:1222. In one embodiment, sequence xv) is SEQ ID NO:1219.
  • the small size and robustness of the IL-17A binding domains of the present disclosure confer several advantages over conventional monoclonal antibody based therapies. Such advantages include the possibility of subcutaneous (s.c.) administration at higher doses than antibodies, alternative routes of administration, flexibility in formatting for superior potency and absence of Fc-mediated side effects.
  • the small size combined with potential for very high solubility (>100 mg/ml) and stability allows for extreme molar amounts of drug in a small volume for s.c. injections. For systemic administration, this suggests outpatient “home use” treatment using convenient small prefilled syringes or auto-injectors, with low volume and well tolerated administration of doses.
  • IL-17A binding and “binding affinity for IL-17A” as used in this specification refer to a property of a polypeptide which may be tested for example by ELISA, by use of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology, or by use of the Kinetic Exclusion Assay (KinExA®).
  • IL-17A binding affinity may be tested in an experiment in which samples of the polypeptide are captured on antibody coated ELISA plates and biotinylated IL-17A, followed by streptavidin conjugated HRP, are added. TMB substrate is added and the absorbance at 450 nm is measured using a multi-well plate reader, such as Victor 3 (Perkin Elmer).
  • the skilled person may then interpret the results obtained by such experiments to establish at least a qualitative measure of the binding affinity of the polypeptide for IL-17A. If a quantitative measure is desired, for example to determine the EC50 value (the half maximal effective concentration) for the interaction, ELISA may also be used. The response of the polypeptides against a dilution series of biotinylated IL-17A are measured using ELISA as described above. The skilled person may then interpret the results obtained by such experiments and EC50 values may be calculated from the results using for example GraphPad Prism 5 and non-linear regression.
  • IL-17A binding affinity may also be tested in an experiment in which IL-17A, or a fragment thereof, is immobilized on a sensor chip of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) instrument, and the sample containing the polypeptide to be tested is passed over the chip.
  • the polypeptide to be tested is immobilized on a sensor chip of the instrument, and a sample containing IL-17A, or a fragment thereof, is passed over the chip.
  • the skilled person may then interpret the results obtained by such experiments to establish at least a qualitative measure of the binding affinity of the polypeptide for IL-17A. If a quantitative measure is desired, for example to determine a K D value for the interaction, surface plasmon resonance methods may also be used.
  • Binding values may for example be defined in a Biacore (GE Healthcare) or ProteOn XPR 36 (Bio-Rad) instrument.
  • IL-17A is suitably immobilized on a sensor chip of the instrument, and samples of the polypeptide whose affinity is to be determined are prepared by serial dilution and injected in random order. K D values may then be calculated from the results using for example the 1:1 Langmuir binding model of the BIAevaluation 4.1 software, or other suitable software, provided by the instrument manufacturer.
  • a KinExA® K D analysis requires immobilization of one interaction partner (e.g. the titrated binding partner) to a solid phase, which is then used as a probe to capture the other interaction partner (e.g. the constant binding partner) free in solution once an equilibrium is reached.
  • a series of solutions with a constant concentration of one binding partner and a titration of the other binding partner are equilibrated.
  • the solutions are then briefly exposed to the solid phase and a portion of free constant binding partner is captured and labeled with a fluorescent secondary molecule.
  • the short contact time with the solid phase is less than the time needed for dissociation of the pre-formed complex in solution, meaning that competition between the solution and the solid phase titrated binding partner is “kinetically excluded”.
  • a K D value is calculated from signals generated from captured free constant binding partner, which are directly proportional to the concentration of free constant binding partner in the equilibrated sample.
  • the data may be analyzed using the KinExA® Pro software and least squares analysis to fit the optimal solutions for the K D and the Active Binding site Concentration (ABC) to a curve representative of a stoichiometric relevant model, for instance a 1:1 reversible bi-molecular interaction.
  • Determination of binding kinetics may be done in a similar format as the equilibrium analysis, except measurements are collected “pre-equilibrium” and the binding signals are a function of time and total concentration of the titrated binding partner.
  • the “direct method” holds the concentrations of titrated and constant binding partners fixed, and the solution is probed over time. The amount of the free constant binding partner in the solution will decrease as the sample moves toward equilibrium.
  • the “inject method” holds incubation time and one partner's concentration fixed, while titrating concentrations of the other partner. As the concentration of the titrated binding partner increases, the amount of free constant binding partner will decrease as more complexes are formed.
  • the IL-17A binding polypeptide is capable of binding to IL-17A such that the K D value of the interaction is at most 1 ⁇ 10 ⁇ 6 M, such as at most 1 ⁇ 10 ⁇ 7 M, such as at most 1 ⁇ 10 ⁇ 8 M, such as at most 1 ⁇ 10 ⁇ 9 M.
  • an IL-17A binding polypeptide is capable of binding to an IL-17A molecule selected from the group consisting of human IL-17A and murine IL-17A.
  • the IL-17A binding polypeptide is capable of binding to human IL-17A.
  • the IL-17A binding polypeptide is capable of binding to murine IL-17A.
  • the IL-17A binding polypeptide is capable of binding to human IL-17A and to murine IL-17A.
  • human IL-17A may comprise the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:1226, or an antigenically effective fragment thereof.
  • murine IL-17A may comprise the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:1227, or an antigenically effective fragment thereof.
  • an IL-17A binding polypeptide as described herein, which polypeptide has been extended by and/or comprises additional amino acids at the C terminus and/or N terminus.
  • a polypeptide should be understood as a polypeptide having one or more additional amino acid residues at the very first and/or the very last position in the polypeptide chain, i.e. at the N- and/or C-terminus of sequence i) or ii).
  • an IL-17A binding polypeptide may comprise any suitable number of additional amino acid residues, for example at least one additional amino acid residue.
  • Each additional amino acid residue may individually or collectively be added in order to, for example, improve and/or simplify production, purification, stabilization in vivo or in vitro, coupling or detection of the polypeptide.
  • Such additional amino acid residues may comprise one or more amino acid residues added for the purpose of chemical coupling.
  • One example of this is the addition of a cysteine residue.
  • Additional amino acid residues may also provide a “tag” for purification or detection of the polypeptide, such as a His 6 tag, a (HisGlu) 3 tag (“HEHEHE” tag) or a “myc” (c-myc) tag or a “FLAG” tag for interaction with antibodies specific to the tag or immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) in the case of the His 6 -tag.
  • a “tag” for purification or detection of the polypeptide such as a His 6 tag, a (HisGlu) 3 tag (“HEHEHE” tag) or a “myc” (c-myc) tag or
  • the further amino acids as discussed above may be coupled to the IL-17A binding polypeptide by means of chemical conjugation (using known organic chemistry methods) or by any other means, such as expression of the IL-17A binding polypeptide as a fusion protein or joined in any other fashion, either directly or via a linker, for example an amino acid linker.
  • the further amino acids as discussed above may for example comprise one or more polypeptide domain(s).
  • a further polypeptide domain may provide the IL-17A binding polypeptide with another function, such as for example yet another binding function, an enzymatic function, a toxic function, a fluorescent signaling function or combinations thereof.
  • a further polypeptide domain may moreover provide another IL-17A binding moiety with the same IL-17A binding function.
  • an IL-17A binding polypeptide in a multimeric form is understood to comprise at least two IL-17A binding polypeptides as disclosed herein as monomer units, the amino acid sequences of which may be the same or different.
  • Multimeric forms of the polypeptides may comprise a suitable number of domains, each having an IL-17A binding motif, and each forming a monomer within the multimer. These domains may have the same amino acid sequence, but alternatively, they may have different amino acid sequences.
  • the IL-17A binding polypeptide of the invention may form homo- or heteromultimers, for example homo- or heterodimers.
  • an IL-17A binding polypeptide wherein said monomeric units are covalently coupled together.
  • said IL-17A binding polypeptide monomer units are expressed as a fusion protein.
  • an IL-17A binding polypeptide in dimeric form there is provided an IL-17A binding polypeptide in dimeric form.
  • heterogenic fusion polypeptides or proteins, or conjugates, in which an IL-17A binding polypeptide described herein, or multimer thereof, constitutes a first domain, or first moiety, and the second and further moieties have other functions than binding IL-17A are also contemplated and fall within the ambit of the present disclosure.
  • the second and further moiety/moieties of the fusion polypeptide or conjugate in such a protein suitably have a desired biological activity.
  • a fusion protein or a conjugate comprising a first moiety consisting of an IL-17A binding polypeptide according to the first aspect, and a second moiety consisting of a polypeptide having a desired biological activity.
  • said fusion protein or conjugate may additionally comprise further moieties, comprising desired biological activities that can be either the same or different from the biological activity of the second moiety.
  • Non-limiting examples of a desired biological activity comprise a therapeutic activity, a binding activity and an enzymatic activity.
  • the second moiety having a desired biological activity is a therapeutically active polypeptide.
  • Non-limiting examples of therapeutically active polypeptides are biomolecules, such as molecules selected from the group consisting of human endogenous enzymes, hormones, growth factors, chemokines, cytokines and lymphokines.
  • Non-limiting examples of contemplated cytokines are IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-10, IL-11, IL-13, IL-21, IL-27, IL-35, IFN ⁇ and TGF ⁇ .
  • Non-limiting examples of contemplated chemokines are SDF-1/CXCL12, BCL/BCA-1/CXCL13, CXCL16, HCC1/CCL14, TARC/CCL17, PARC/CCL18, MIP-36/ELC/CCL19, SLC/CCL21, CCL25/TECK and CCL27/CTACK.
  • binding activities are binding activities which increase the in vivo half-life of the fusion protein or conjugate.
  • said binding activity is an albumin binding activity which increases the in vivo half-life of the fusion protein or conjugate.
  • said albumin binding activity is provided by the albumin binding domain of streptococcal protein G or a derivative thereof.
  • said binding activity is an FcRn binding activity which increases the in vivo half-life of the fusion protein or conjugate.
  • the fusion protein or conjugate of this second aspect comprises two monomers of the IL-17A binding polypeptide of the first aspect, whose amino acid sequences may be the same or different, linked by an albumin binding moiety.
  • the fusion protein or conjugate comprises two IL-17A binding monomers with an albumin binding moiety between them.
  • Said albumin binding moiety may e.g. be a “GA” albumin binding domain from streptococcal protein G, such as “GA3”, or a derivative thereof as described in any one of WO2009/016043, WO2012/004384, WO2014/048977 and WO2015/091957.
  • the format of such a fusion protein or conjugate is “Z-A-Z”, where each “Z” individually is an IL-17A binding polypeptide as described herein, and “A” is an albumin binding domain.
  • such an IL-17A binding polypeptide with the “Z-A-Z” format is capable of binding to IL-17A such that the K D value of the interaction is at most 1 ⁇ 10 ⁇ 10 M, such as at most 1 ⁇ 10 ⁇ 11 M, such as at most 1 ⁇ 10 ⁇ 12 M, such as at most 1 ⁇ 10 ⁇ 13 M.
  • such a “Z-A-Z” polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1233-1247, for example selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1236, 1237 and 1242-1247, such as selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1236, 1244 and 1247 or the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1237, 1244 and 1247.
  • the “Z-A-Z” polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1244 and 1245.
  • the “Z-A-Z” polypeptide comprises SEQ ID NO:1244.
  • said binding activity is binding to an angiogenesis associated factor.
  • angiogenesis associated factors include fibroblast growth factor (FGF), fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF-1), basic FGF, angiogenin 1 (Ang-1), angiogenin 2 (Ang-2), angiopoietin 1 (Angpt-1), angiopoietin 2 (Angpt-2), angiopoietin 3 (Angpt-3), angiopoietin 4 (Angpt-4), tyrosine kinase with immunoglobulin-like domains 1 (TIE-1), tyrosine kinase with immunoglobulin-like domains 2 (TIE-2), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR-1), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 (VEGFR-3), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), vascular endothelial growth factor
  • said binding activity is binding to an immune response associated factor.
  • immune response associated factors include
  • the binding activity of said second moiety is binding to a target selected from the group consisting of TNF, IL-1 ⁇ , IL-6, IL-17F and IL-23.
  • an IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein or conjugate which comprises an immune response modifying agent.
  • immune response modifying agents include immunosuppressive or immunomodulating agents or other anti-inflammatory agents.
  • an IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein or conjugate as described herein may comprise an agent selected from the group consisting of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), such as gold salts, azathioprine, methotrexate and leflunomide; calcineurin inhibitors, such as cyclosporin A or FK 506; modulators of lymphocyte recirculation; mTOR inhibitors, such as rapamycin; an ascomycin having immunosuppressive properties; glucocorticoids; corticosteroids; cyclophosphamide; immunosuppressive monoclonal antibodies, for example monoclonal antibodies with affinity for leukocyte receptors such as MHC, CD2, CD3, CD4, CD7, CD8, CD25, CD28, CD40, CD45, CD58, CD80, CD86 or their ligands; adhesion molecule inhibitors, such as LFA-1 antagonists, ICAM-1 or -3 antagonists, VCAM-4 antagonists or VLA-4 antagonists;
  • an IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein or conjugate which comprises a toxic compound.
  • toxic compounds include calicheamicin, maytansinoid, neocarzinostatin, esperamicin, dynemicin, kedarcidin, maduropeptin, doxorubicin, daunorubicin, auristatin, ricin-A chain, modeccin, truncated Pseudomonas exotoxin A, diphtheria toxin and recombinant gelonin.
  • a polypeptide with affinity for IL-17A as disclosed herein may also exhibit affinity for another factor, such as an immune response associated factor, for example an inflammation-associated factor.
  • a complex comprising at least one IL-17A binding polypeptide as defined herein and at least one antibody or an antigen binding fragment thereof.
  • the term “complex” is intended to refer to two or more associated polypeptide chains, one having an affinity for IL-17A by virtue of its IL-17A binding motif as defined above, and the other being an antibody or an antigen binding fragment thereof. These polypeptide chains may each contain different protein domains, as described amply above for the IL-17A binding polypeptide of the first and second aspects, and the resulting multiprotein complex can have multiple functions. “Complex” intends to refer to two or more polypeptides as defined herein, connected by covalent bonds, for example two or more polypeptide chains connected by covalent bonds through expression thereof as a recombinant fusion protein, or associated by chemical conjugation.
  • the third aspect provides a complex comprising an antibody or an antigen binding fragment thereof.
  • antibodies are immunoglobulin molecules capable of specific binding to a target (an antigen), such as a carbohydrate, polynucleotide, lipid, polypeptide or other, through at least one antigen recognition site located in the variable region of the immunoglobulin molecule.
  • antibody or an antigen binding fragment thereof encompasses not only full-length or intact polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies, but also antigen-binding fragments thereof, such as Fab, Fab′, F(ab′) 2 , Fab 3 , Fv and variants thereof, fusion proteins comprising one or more antibody portions, humanized antibodies, chimeric antibodies, minibodies, diabodies, triabodies, tetrabodies, linear antibodies, single chain antibodies, multispecific antibodies (e.g. bispecific antibodies) and any other modified configuration of the immunoglobulin molecule that comprises an antigen recognition site of the required specificity, including glycosylation variants of antibodies, amino acid sequence variants of antibodies and covalently modified antibodies.
  • antigen-binding fragments thereof such as Fab, Fab′, F(ab′) 2 , Fab 3 , Fv and variants thereof, fusion proteins comprising one or more antibody portions, humanized antibodies, chimeric antibodies, minibodies, diabodies, triabodies, tetra
  • modified antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof include nanobodies, AlbudAbs, DARTs (dual affinity re-targeting), BiTEs (bispecific T-cell engager), TandAbs (tandem diabodies), DAFs (dual acting Fab), two-in-one antibodies, SMIPs (small modular immunopharmaceuticals), FynomAbs (fynomers fused to antibodies), DVD-Igs (dual variable domain immunoglobulin), CovX-bodies (peptide modified antibodies), duobodies and triomAbs.
  • This listing of variants of antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof is not to be seen as limiting, and the skilled person is aware of other suitable variants.
  • a full-length antibody comprises two heavy chains and two light chains.
  • Each heavy chain contains a heavy chain variable region (V H ) and first, second and third constant regions (C H 1, C H 2 and C H 3).
  • Each light chain contains a light chain variable region (V L ) and a light chain constant region (C L ).
  • V H heavy chain variable region
  • C H 1 first, second and third constant regions
  • Each light chain contains a light chain variable region (V L ) and a light chain constant region (C L ).
  • IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, IgM and IgY and several of these may be further divided into subclasses (isotypes), e.g., IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgA1 and IgA2.
  • full-length antibody refers to an antibody of any class, such as IgD, IgE, IgG, IgA, IgM or IgY (or any sub-class thereof).
  • the subunit structures and three-dimensional configurations of different classes of antibodies are well known.
  • An “antigen binding fragment” is a portion or region of an antibody molecule, or a derivative thereof, that retains all or a significant part of the antigen binding of the corresponding full-length antibody.
  • An antigen binding fragment may comprise the heavy chain variable region (V H ), the light chain variable region (V L ), or both.
  • V H and V L typically contains three complementarity determining regions CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3.
  • the three CDRs in V H or V L are flanked by framework regions (FR1, FR2, FR3 and FR4).
  • examples of antigen binding fragments include, but are not limited to: (1) a Fab fragment, which is a monovalent fragment having a V L -C L chain and a V H -C H 1 chain; (2) a Fab′ fragment, which is a Fab fragment with the heavy chain hinge region, (3) a F(ab′) 2 fragment, which is a dimer of Fab′ fragments joined by the heavy chain hinge region, for example linked by a disulfide bridge at the hinge region; (4) an Fc fragment; (5) an Fv fragment, which is the minimum antibody fragment having the V L and V H domains of a single arm of an antibody; (6) a single chain Fv (scFv) fragment, which is a single polypeptide chain in which the V H and V L domains of an scFv are linked by a peptide linker; (7) an (scFv) 2 , which comprises two V H domains and two V L domains, which are associated through the two V H domains via dis
  • Antigen binding fragments can be prepared via routine methods.
  • F(ab′) 2 fragments can be produced by pepsin digestion of a full-length antibody molecule, and Fab fragments can be generated by reducing the disulfide bridges of F(ab′) 2 fragments.
  • fragments can be prepared via recombinant technology by expressing the heavy and light chain fragments in suitable host cells (e.g., E. coli , yeast, mammalian, plant or insect cells) and having them assembled to form the desired antigen-binding fragments either in vivo or in vitro.
  • a single-chain antibody can be prepared via recombinant technology by linking a nucleotide sequence coding for a heavy chain variable region and a nucleotide sequence coding for a light chain variable region.
  • a flexible linker may be incorporated between the two variable regions. The skilled person is aware of methods for the preparation of both full-length antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof.
  • this aspect of the disclosure provides a complex as defined herein, wherein said at least one antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof is selected from the group consisting of full-length antibodies, Fab fragments, Fab′ fragments, F(ab′) 2 fragments, Fc fragments, Fv fragments, single chain Fv fragments, (scFv) 2 and domain antibodies.
  • said at least one antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof is selected from full-length antibodies, Fab fragments and scFv fragments.
  • said at least one antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof is a full-length antibody.
  • the antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof is selected from the group consisting of monoclonal antibodies, human antibodies, humanized antibodies, chimeric antibodies, and antigen-binding fragments thereof.
  • monoclonal antibodies refers to antibodies having monovalent affinity, meaning that each antibody molecule in a sample of the monoclonal antibody binds to the same epitope on the antigen
  • polyclonal antibodies refers to a collection of antibodies that react against a specific antigen, but in which collection there may be different antibody molecules for example identifying different epitopes on the antigen.
  • Polyclonal antibodies are typically produced by inoculation of a suitable mammal and are purified from the mammal's serum.
  • Monoclonal antibodies are made by identical immune cells that are clones of a unique parent cell (for example a hybridoma cell line).
  • human antibody refers to antibodies having variable and constant regions corresponding substantially to, or derived from, antibodies obtained from human subjects.
  • chimeric antibodies refers to recombinant or genetically engineered antibodies, such as for example mouse monoclonal antibodies, which contain polypeptides or domains from a different species, for example human, introduced to reduce the antibodies' immunogenicity.
  • humanized antibodies refers to antibodies from non-human species whose protein sequences have been modified to increase their similarity to antibody variants produced naturally in humans, in order to reduce immunogenicity.
  • a complex as defined herein may be beneficial for a complex as defined herein to, in addition to being capable of binding IL-17A, target at least one additional antigen, such as an antigen selected from the group consisting of an antigen associated with an angiogenesis related disorder and an antigen associated with the immune response.
  • said additional antigen is associated with angiogenesis.
  • said additional antigen is associated with the immune response.
  • the antigen is associated with angiogenesis and is selected from the group consisting of fibroblast growth factor (FGF), fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF-1), basic FGF, angiogenin 1 (Ang-1), angiogenin 2 (Ang-2), angiopoietin 1 (Angpt-1), angiopoietin 2 (Angpt-2), angiopoietin 3 (Angpt-3), angiopoietin 4 (Angpt-4), tyrosine kinase with immunoglobulin-like domains 1 (TIE-1), tyrosine kinase with immunoglobulin-like domains 2 (TIE-2), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR-1), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 (VEGFR-3), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), vascular endothelial growth factor B (VEGF-A),
  • said antibody or fragment thereof is selected from the group consisting of AMG 780, AMG 386, MEDI-3617, nesvacumab, CVX-241, bevacizumab, ranibizumab, VGX100, CVX-241, ABP 215, PF-06439535, fresolimumab, metelimumab, onartuzumab, emibetuzumab and tarextumab.
  • the antigen is associated with the immune response or a disorder of the immune system, and is selected from the group consisting of
  • the antigen is selected from the group consisting of TNF, IL-1 ⁇ , IL-6, IL-17F and IL-23.
  • said antibody or fragment thereof is selected from the group consisting of visilizumab, otelixizumab, ipilimumab, tremelimumab, pembrolizumab, nivolumab, pidilizumab, MPDL3280A, MEDI-4736, MPDL3280A and lirilumab, and antigen-binding fragments thereof.
  • said antigen is TNF.
  • said antibody or fragment thereof is selected from the group consisting of adalimumab, infliximab, golimumab, certolimumab pegol, and antigen binding fragments thereof.
  • said antibody or fragment thereof is a full-length antibody selected from the group consisting of adalimumab, infliximab, golimumab and certolimumab pegol.
  • said antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof is adalimumab or an antigen binding fragment thereof, for example full-length adalimumab.
  • the complex as described herein may for example be present in the form of a fusion protein or a conjugate.
  • said at least one IL-17A binding polypeptide and said at least one antibody, or antigen binding fragment thereof may be coupled by means of chemical conjugation (using known organic chemistry methods) or by any other means, such as expression of the complex as a fusion protein or joined in any other fashion, either directly or via a linker, for example an amino acid linker.
  • a complex as defined herein wherein said complex is a fusion protein or a conjugate.
  • said complex is a fusion protein.
  • said complex is a conjugate.
  • said IL-17A binding polypeptide is attached to the N-terminus or C-terminus of the heavy chain of said antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof.
  • said IL-17A binding polypeptide is attached to the N-terminus or C-terminus of the light chain of said antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof.
  • said IL-17A binding polypeptide is attached to the N-terminus and/or C-terminus of the light chain and heavy chain of said antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof.
  • the IL-17A binding polypeptide may be attached to only the N-terminus of the heavy chain(s), only the N-terminus of the light chain(s), only the C-terminus of the heavy chain(s), only the C-terminus of the light chain(s), both the N-terminus and the C-terminus of the heavy chain(s), both the N-terminus and the C-terminus of the light chain(s), only the C-terminus of the light chain(s) and the N-terminus of the heavy chain(s), only the C-terminus of the heavy chain(s) and the N-terminus of the light chain(s), of said antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof.
  • the construction of a fusion protein often involves use of linkers between functional moieties to be fused.
  • linkers with different properties, such as flexible amino acid linkers, rigid amino acid linkers and cleavable amino acid linkers.
  • Linkers have been used to for example increase stability or improve folding of fusion proteins, to increase expression, improve biological activity, affinity and/or binding, enable targeting and alter pharmacokinetics of fusion proteins.
  • the IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate or complex as defined herein further comprises at least one linker.
  • the linker may for example be selected from the group consisting of flexible amino acid linkers, rigid amino acid linkers and cleavable amino acid linkers.
  • the linker may be a non-peptidic linker.
  • said linker is arranged between a first moiety consisting of an IL-17A binding polypeptide as defined herein and a second moiety consisting of a polypeptide having a desired biological activity.
  • said linker is arranged between said IL-17A binding polypeptide and said antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof.
  • Flexible linkers are often used when the joined domains require a certain degree of movement or interaction, and may be particularly useful in some embodiments of the IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate or complex as defined herein.
  • Such linkers are generally composed of small, non-polar (for example G) or polar (for example S or T) amino acids.
  • Some flexible linkers primarily consist of stretches of G and S residues, for example (GGGGS(SEQ ID NO:1301)) p and (SSSSG(SEQ ID NO:1302)) p . Adjusting the copy number “p” allows for optimization of the linker in order to achieve appropriate separation between the functional moieties or to maintain necessary inter-moiety interaction.
  • G and S linkers other flexible linkers are known in the art, such as G and S linkers containing additional amino acid residues, such as T, A, K and E, to maintain flexibility, as well as polar amino acid residues to improve solubility.
  • said linker is a flexible linker comprising glycine (G), serine (S) and/or threonine (T) residues.
  • n 1-5.
  • m 0-5.
  • p 1-5.
  • said linker comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of G 4 S(SEQ ID NO:1301), (G 4 S) 2 (SEQ ID NO:1303), (G 4 S) 3 (SEQ ID NO:1304) and (G 4 S) 4 (SEQ ID NO:1305).
  • said linker comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of GT(G 4 S[SEQ ID NO:1301]) p TS, GT(G 4 S[SEQ ID NO:1301]) p PR and GT(G 4 S[SEQ ID NO:1301]) p PK.
  • said linker comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of GAP(G 4 S[SEQ ID NO:1301]) p TS, GAP(G 4 S[SEQ ID NO:1301]) p PR and GAP(G 4 S[SEQ ID NO:1301]) p PK.
  • said linker comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of KL(G 4 S[SEQ ID NO:1301]) p , LQ(G 4 S[SEQ ID NO:1301]) p and YV(G 4 S[SEQ ID NO:1301]) p PK.
  • said linker comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of S 4 G (SEQ ID NO:1302), (S 4 G) 3 (SEQ ID NO:1308), (S 4 G) 4 (SEQ ID NO:1309) and (S 4 G) 8 .
  • said linker comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of VDGS(SEQ ID NO:1311), ASGS(SEQ ID NO:1312) and VEGS(SEQ ID NO:1313). In a specific embodiment, said linker comprises ASGS(SEQ ID NO:1312).
  • first, second and further moieties are made for clarity reasons to distinguish between IL-17A binding polypeptide or polypeptides according to the invention on the one hand, and moieties exhibiting other functions on the other hand. These designations are not intended to refer to the actual order of the different domains in the polypeptide chain of the fusion protein, conjugate or complex.
  • said first moiety may without restriction appear at the N-terminal end, in the middle, or at the C-terminal end of the fusion protein, conjugate or complex.
  • the disclosure furthermore encompasses polypeptides in which the IL-17A binding polypeptide according to the first aspect, the IL-17A binding polypeptide as comprised in a fusion protein or conjugate according to the second aspect or in a complex according to the third aspect, further comprises a label, such as a label selected from the group consisting of fluorescent dyes and metals, chromophoric dyes, chemiluminescent compounds and bioluminescent proteins, enzymes, radionuclides and particles.
  • a label such as a label selected from the group consisting of fluorescent dyes and metals, chromophoric dyes, chemiluminescent compounds and bioluminescent proteins, enzymes, radionuclides and particles.
  • a label such as a label selected from the group consisting of fluorescent dyes and metals, chromophoric dyes, chemiluminescent compounds and bioluminescent proteins, enzymes, radionuclides and particles.
  • Such labels may for example be used for detection of the poly
  • this labeled polypeptide may be used for indirect labeling of IL-17A expressing cells, such as cells of inflammation-associated cancers.
  • inflammation-associated cancers include gastric cancers, colorectal cancers, non-small cell lung cancers, hepatocellular carcinomas and adenocarcinomas (Wu et al., 2014 Tumour Biol. 35(6):5347-56; Wu et al., 2012 PLoS One 7(12); Zhang et al. 2012 Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 13(8):3955-60, Liu et al., 2011 Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 407(2):348-54).
  • the labeled IL-17A binding polypeptide is present as a moiety in a fusion protein, conjugate or complex also comprising a second and possible further moiety having a desired biological activity.
  • the label may in some instances be coupled only to the IL-17A binding polypeptide, and in some instances both to the IL-17A binding polypeptide and to the second moiety of the fusion protein or conjugate and/or the antibody or antigen binding fragment of the complex.
  • the label may be coupled to a second moiety, or antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof only and not to the IL-17A binding moiety.
  • an IL-17A binding polypeptide comprising a second moiety, wherein said label is coupled to the second moiety only.
  • said IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate or complex as described herein comprises a chelating environment provided by a polyaminopolycarboxylate chelator conjugated to the IL-17A binding polypeptide via a thiol group of a cysteine residue or an amine group of a lysine residue.
  • such a radiolabeled polypeptide may comprise a radionuclide.
  • a majority of radionuclides have a metallic nature and metals are typically incapable of forming stable covalent bonds with elements presented in proteins and peptides. For this reason, labeling of proteins and peptides with radioactive metals is performed with the use of chelators, i.e. multidentate ligands, which form non-covalent compounds, called chelates, with the metal ions.
  • the incorporation of a radionuclide is enabled through the provision of a chelating environment, through which the radionuclide may be coordinated, chelated or complexed to the polypeptide.
  • a chelator is the polyaminopolycarboxylate type of chelator.
  • Two classes of such polyaminopolycarboxylate chelators can be distinguished: macrocyclic and acyclic chelators.
  • the IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein or conjugate comprises a chelating environment provided by a polyaminopolycarboxylate chelator conjugated to the IL-17A binding polypeptide via a thiol group of a cysteine residue or an epsilon amine group of a lysine residue.
  • chelators for radioisotopes of indium, gallium, yttrium, bismuth, radioactinides and radiolanthanides are different derivatives of DOTA (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid).
  • a chelating environment of the IL-17A polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate or complex is provided by DOTA or a derivative thereof.
  • the chelating polypeptides encompassed by the present disclosure are obtained by reacting the DOTA derivative 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-tris-acetic acid-10-maleimidoethylacetamide (maleimidomonoamide-DOTA) with said polypeptide.
  • 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-triacetic acid may be used as chelators.
  • NOTA 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-triacetic acid
  • an IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate or complex wherein the the polyaminopolycarboxylate chelator is 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-triacetic acid or a derivative thereof.
  • polyaminopolycarboxylate chelators are different derivatives of DTPA (diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid).
  • DTPA diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid
  • polypeptides having a chelating environment provided by diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid or derivatives thereof are also encompassed by the present disclosure.
  • said IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate or complex as described herein further comprises one or more polyethylene glycol (PEG) moieties, e.g. in order to improve pharmacokinetic properties of the molecule.
  • PEG polyethylene glycol
  • a polynucleotide encoding an IL-17A binding polypeptide or a fusion protein as described herein; an expression vector comprising said polynucleotide; and a host cell comprising said expression vector.
  • Also encompassed by this disclosure is a method of producing a polypeptide or fusion protein as described above, comprising culturing said host cell under conditions permissive of expression of said polypeptide from its expression vector, and isolating the polypeptide.
  • the IL-17A binding polypeptide of the present disclosure may alternatively be produced by non-biological peptide synthesis using amino acids and/or amino acid derivatives having protected reactive side-chains, the non-biological peptide synthesis comprising
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide may be useful as a therapeutic, diagnostic or prognostic agent in its own right or as a means for targeting other therapeutic or diagnostic agents, with e.g. direct or indirect effects on IL-17A.
  • a direct therapeutic effect may for example be accomplished by inhibiting IL-17A signaling, such as by blocking IL-17A from binding to one or more of its receptors.
  • composition comprising an IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate or complex as described herein and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient or carrier.
  • said composition further comprises at least one additional active agent, such as at least two additional active agents, such as at least three additional active agents.
  • additional active agents that may prove useful in such a composition are the therapeutically active polypeptides, immune response modifying agents and toxic compounds described herein.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate or complex, or a pharmaceutical composition comprising an anti-IL-17A binding polypetide, fusion protein, conjugate or complex as described herein may be administered to a subject using standard administration techniques, such as including oral, topical, intravenous, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, pulmonary, transdermal, intramuscular, intranasal, buccal, sublingual or suppository administration.
  • an IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate or complex or a pharmaceutical composition as described herein for oral topical, intravenous, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, pulmonary, transdermal, intramuscular, intranasal, buccal, sublingual or suppository administration.
  • an IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate or complex or a pharmaceutical composition as described herein for oral administration in another particular embodiment there is provided an IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate or complex or a pharmaceutical composition as described herein for topical administration, such as topical administration to the eye.
  • IL-17A may also serve as a valuable marker to for diagnosis and prognosis of certain cancers, such as inflammation-associated cancers for example gastric cancers, colorectal cancers, non-small cell lung cancers, hepatocellular carcinomas and adenocarcinomas.
  • inflammation-associated cancers for example gastric cancers, colorectal cancers, non-small cell lung cancers, hepatocellular carcinomas and adenocarcinomas.
  • IL-17 has been linked to the prognosis and poor survival in patients suffering from colorectal carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma.
  • an IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate, complex or composition as described herein for use as a medicament to modulate IL-17A function in vivo.
  • modulate refers to changing the activity, such as rendering IL-17A function hypomorph, partially inhibiting or fully inhibiting IL-17A function.
  • Non-limiting examples of IL-17A associated conditions or diseases, wherein the IL-17A binding polypeptides may be useful for treatment, prognosis and/or diagnosis of include arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis chronica progrediente, arthritis deformans and rheumatic diseases, diseases involving bone loss, inflammatory pain, spondyloarhropathies including ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter syndrome, reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, enterophathc arthritis, pauciarticular rheumatoid arthritis, polyarticular rheumatoid arthritis, systemic onset rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis; hypersensitivity conditions, such as hypersensitivity (including both airways hypersensitivity and dermal hypersensitivity), allergies and responses to allergen exposure; gastrointestional conditions or diseases, such as autoimmune inflammatory bowel disease (including e.g.
  • ophthalmic conditions and diseases such as endocrine ophthalmopathy, Graves disease, uveitis (anterior and posterior), keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye disease), vernal keratoconjunctivitis, herpetic stromal keratitis and dry eye disease; nephrological conditions and disease, such as glomerulonephritis (with and without nephrotic syndrome, e.g.
  • idiopathic nephrotic syndrome or minimal change nephropathy including idiopathic nephrotic syndrome or minimal change nephropathy); acute conditions and disease, such as acute and hyperacute inflammatory reactions, septic shock (e.g., endotoxic shock and adult respiratory distress syndrome), meningitis, pneumonia, severe burns, acute infections, septicemia, stroke and ischemic; cachexia (wasting syndrome), such as cachexia associated with morbid TNF release, cachexia consequent to infection, cachexia associated with cancer, cachexia associated with organ dysfunction and AIDS-related cachexia; bone related conditions and diseases, such as diseases of bone metabolism including osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, inflammatory arthritides, bone loss such as age-related bone loss, periodontal disease, loosening of bone implants and bone erosion; juvenile conditions and diseases, such as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, systemic onset juvenile
  • the IL-17A binding polypeptides as disclosed herein may furthermore be useful for the treatment of recipients of heart, lung, combined heart-lung, liver, kidney, pancreatic, skin or corneal transplants, including allograft rejection or xenograft rejection, and for the prevention of graft-versus-host disease, such as following bone marrow transplant, and organ transplant associated arteriosclerosis.
  • the IL-17A binding polypeptides as disclosed herein may furthermore be useful for the treatment, diagnosis or prognosis of inflammation-associated cancers.
  • cancer refers to tumor diseases and/or cancer, such as metastatic or invasive cancers, for example lung cancer, non small cell lung (NSCL) cancer, bronchioloalviolar cell lung cancer, bone cancer, pancreatic cancer, skin cancer, cancer of the head or neck, cutaneous or intraocular melanoma, rectal cancer, cancer of the anal region, stomach cancer, gastric cancer, colon cancer, colorectal cancer, cancer of the small intestines, esophageal cancer, liver cancer, pancreas cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, carcinoma of the fallopian tubes, carcinoma of the endometrium, carcinoma of the cervix, carcinoma of the vagina, carcinoma of the vulva, Hodgkin's Disease, cancer of the endocrine system, cancer of the thyroid gland, cancer of the parathyroid gland,
  • Non-limiting examples of inflammation-associated cancers include gastric cancers, colorectal cancers, non-small cell lung cancers, hepatocellular carcinomas and adenocarcinomas.
  • an IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate, complex or composition for use in the treatment, diagnosis or prognosis of an IL-17A associated condition, such as a condition selected from the group consisting of inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases and cancer, such as inflammatory diseases and autoimmune diseases.
  • an IL-17A associated condition such as a condition selected from the group consisting of inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases and cancer, such as inflammatory diseases and autoimmune diseases.
  • said condition is selected from the group consisting of inflammatory conditions, allergic conditions, hypersensitivity reactions, autoimmune diseases, severe infections and transplant rejections.
  • said IL-17A associated condition is selected from the group consisting of rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, uveitis and dry eye disease.
  • said IL-17A associated condition is psoriasis.
  • said IL-17A associated condition is an inflammation-associated cancer, such as a cancer selected from the group consisting of gastric cancers, colorectal cancers, non-small cell lung cancers, hepatocellular carcinomas and adenocarcinomas.
  • a cancer selected from the group consisting of gastric cancers, colorectal cancers, non-small cell lung cancers, hepatocellular carcinomas and adenocarcinomas.
  • a method of detecting IL-17A comprising providing a sample suspected to contain IL-17A, contacting said sample with an IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate, complex or composition as described herein, and detecting the binding of the IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate, complex or composition to indicate the presence of IL-17A in the sample.
  • said method further comprises an intermediate washing step for removing non-bound polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate, complex or composition, after contacting the sample.
  • said method is a diagnostic or prognostic method, for determining the presence of IL-17A in a subject, the method comprising the steps:
  • said method further comprises an intermediate washing step for removing non-bound polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate, complex or composition, after contacting the subject or sample and before obtaining a value.
  • said method further comprises a step of comparing said value to a reference.
  • Said reference may be scored by a numerical value, a threshold or a visual indicator, for example based on a color reaction.
  • the skilled person will appreciate that different ways of comparison to a reference are known in the art may be suitable for use.
  • said subject is a mammalian subject, such as a human subject.
  • said method is performed in vivo.
  • said method is performed in vitro.
  • a method of treatment of an IL-17A associated condition comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of an IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate, complex or composition as described herein.
  • the IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate, complex or composition as described herein modulates IL-17A function in vivo.
  • said IL-17A associated condition is selected from the group consisting of inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases and cancer, such as a group consisting of inflammatory diseases and autoimmune diseases.
  • the IL-17A associated condition is selected from the group consisting of inflammatory conditions, allergic conditions, hypersensitivity reactions, autoimmune diseases, severe infections and transplant rejections.
  • said IL-17A associated condition is selected from the group consisting of rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, uveitis and dry eye disease.
  • said IL-17A associated condition is psoriasis.
  • said IL-17A associated condition is cancer, such as a cancer selected from the group consisting of gastric cancers, colorectal cancers, non-small cell lung cancers, hepatocellular carcinomas and adenocarcinomas.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate, complex or composition as described herein together with least one second drug substance, such as an immune response modifying agent, toxic compound or an anti-cancer agent.
  • second drug substance such as an immune response modifying agent, toxic compound or an anti-cancer agent.
  • co-administration encompasses concomitant administration and administration in sequence.
  • a method as defined above further comprising co-administration of an immune response modulating agent.
  • a method as defined above further comprising co-administration of an additional anti-inflammatory agent.
  • a method as defined above further comprising co-administration of a toxic compound.
  • a method as defined above further comprising co-administration of an anti-cancer agent.
  • Non-limiting examples of immune response modulating agents and toxic compounds are given above.
  • Non-limiting examples of anti-cancer agents include agents selected from the group consisting of auristatin, anthracycline, calicheamycin, combretastatin, doxorubicin, duocarmycin, the CC-1065 anti-tumorantibiotic, ecteinsascidin, geldanamycin, maytansinoid, methotrexate, mycotoxin, taxol, ricin, bouganin, gelonin, pseudomonas exotoxin 38 (PE38), diphtheria toxin (DT), and their analogues, and derivates thereof and combinations thereof.
  • cytotoxic agents include all possible variant of said agents, for example the agent auristatin includes for example auristatin E, auristatin F, auristatin PE, and derivates thereof.
  • FIGS. 1A-1QQ are a listing of the amino acid sequences of examples of IL-17A binding polypeptides of the present disclosure (SEQ ID NO:1-1222), a control polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:1223), the albumin binding polypeptides PP013 (SEQ ID NO:1224) and PEP07843 (SEQ ID NO:1225) as well as the amino acid sequences of human IL-17A (SEQ ID NO:1226), murine IL-17A (SEQ ID NO:1227), cynomolgus monkey IL-17A (SEQ ID NO:1229), rhesus monkey IL-17A (SEQ ID NO:1230) and human IL-17F (SEQ ID NO:1228) used for selection, screening and/or characterization for illustration of the invention.
  • the deduced IL-17A binding motifs extend from residue 8 to residue 36 in each sequence.
  • the amino acid sequences of the 49 amino acid residues long polypeptides (BMod) predicted to constitute the complete three-helix bundle within each of these Z variants extend from residue 7 to residue 55.
  • FIG. 2 shows inhibition of IL-17A induced IL-6 production assessed by the NHDF assay described in Example 3.
  • His 6 -Z06260 open diamonds
  • His 6 -Z06282 open squares
  • His 6 -Z06455 open circles
  • Z06260-ABD closed diamonds
  • His 6 -Z06282 open squares
  • Z06282-ABD filled squares
  • His 6 -Z06455 open circles
  • Z06455-ABD filled circles
  • FIG. 3 shows the IL-17A binding capacity of a set of Z variants from the first and second maturation library assayed by ELISA as described in Example 8. The results are displayed as percent binding capacity compared to the IL-17A binding variant Z10241 (SEQ ID NO:11).
  • FIG. 4 shows the result of binding specificity analysis performed in a Biacore instrument as described in Example 8.
  • Sensorgrams were obtained by injection of 20 nM of the His 6 -tagged Z variants Z10508 (SEQ ID NO:2) (A), Z10532 (SEQ ID NO:1) (B) and Z15167 (SEQ ID NO:4) (C) over human IL-17A (black), human IL-17A/F (dark grey) and human IL-17F (light grey), respectively, immobilized on the surface of a CM5 chip.
  • FIG. 5 shows inhibition of IL-17A induced IL-6 production for a selection of Z variants originating from the first maturation selection (solid curves) compared to one binder from the primary selection (broken curve) assayed as described in Example 8. All binders inhibited IL-17A in a dose dependent manner and the maturated binders had an increased blocking capacity compared to the primary binder.
  • FIG. 6 shows binding of human IL-17A (grey) and cynomolgus IL-17A (black) to (A) ZAZ3363 (SEQ ID NO:1244), (B) ZAZ3364 (SEQ ID NO:1245) and (C) ZAZ3365 (SEQ ID NO:1246), analyzed in a Biacore instrument as described in Example 11.
  • the resulting curves, from which responses from a blank surface were subtracted, correspond to injections of the respective IL-17A protein at concentrations 2.5, 10 and 40 nM.
  • FIG. 7 shows inhibition of IL-17A induced IL-6 production in the NHDF assay described in Example 14.
  • FIG. 7A shows a superior inhibitory efficacy with the dimeric Z-ABD-Z polypeptide ZAZ3220 (SEQ ID NO:1236, solid black line) compared to the corresponding monomeric Z variant Z10241 (SEQ ID NO:11, dotted black line).
  • FIG. 7B shows an evaluation of different linker lengths between the Z and the ABD moieties in Z-ABD-Z polypeptides comprising the Z variant Z06282 (SEQ ID NO:1206).
  • Z-ABD-Z polypeptides ZAZ3174 (SEQ ID NO:1233), ZAZ3176 (SEQ ID NO:1235), ZAZ3234 (SEQ ID NO:1238), ZAZ3235 (SEQ ID NO:1239), ZAZ3236 (SEQ ID NO:1240) and ZAZ3237 (SEQ ID NO:1241) with various numbers of G 4 S repeats, or minimal linkers, on each side of the ABD were compared.
  • FIG. 8 shows dose dependent inhibition by Z-ABD-Z polypeptides in the hIL-17A induced KC-model described in Example 15.
  • A Complete inhibition of KC production by ZAZ3174 (SEQ ID NO:1233) was obtained at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg.
  • B Complete inhibition of KC production by ZAZ3220 (SEQ ID NO:1236) was obtained at a dose of 0.4 mg/kg.
  • Doses indicated on the x-axis are given in mg/kg and the corresponding pmol dose. The numbers above the bar indicate percent inhibition in each dose group; 72% inhibition was obtained with 0.1 mg/kg ZAZ3220.
  • LOQ limit of quantification.
  • FIG. 9 shows the pharmacokinetic profiles of the Z-ABD-Z polypeptides (A) ZAZ3220 (SEQ ID NO:1236) and (B) ZAZ3363 (SEQ ID NO:1244), following a single i.v. (black line) or s.c. (gray broken line) administration to SD rats as described in Example 16. The mean serum concentrations versus time is displayed.
  • FIG. 10 shows the result of topical administration to the eyes of rabbits performed as described in Example 17. Uptake of Z variant Z10199 (SEQ ID NO:1217) and the Z-ABD-Z polypeptide ZAZ3174 (SEQ ID NO:1233) was demonstrated both in aqueous humor and vitreous humor, whereas the control IgG antibody did not penetrate the eye.
  • FIG. 11 shows the activity of ZAZ3363 (SEQ ID NO:1244) formulated in OAF1 and OAF2, respectively, in comparison to formulation in PBS, and analyzed in the NHDF assay described in Example 18.
  • FIG. 12 shows the pharmacokinetic profile of intraduodenal administration of ZAZ3363 formulated in OAF1 (filled circles), OAF2 (open triangles) and PBS (crosses) performed as described in Example 18.
  • FIG. 13 shows the evaluation of the complexes HC Ada -Z14253 and LC Ada -Z14253 in the NHDF assay described in Example 19.
  • A Schematic of the complexes HC Ada -Z14253 (left) and LC Ada -Z14253 (right).
  • B Inhibition of IL-17A induced IL-6 production.
  • C Inhibition of TNF-induced IL-8 production.
  • D Inhibition of TNF and IL-17A-induced IL-8 production.
  • Z04726-ABD is a negative control, included in all three assays.
  • FIG. 14 shows the pharmacokinetic profiles of the Z-ABD-Z polypeptide ZAZ3363 (SEQ ID NO:1244) in cynomolgus monkeys following i.v. administration of 20 mg/kg (black) or 40 mg/kg (grey) on day 1, 4, 7 and 10 as described in Example 20. Mean plasma concentrations versus time are shown following analysis of (A) the first injection on day 1 and (B) the fourth injection on day 10. Error bars represent standard deviation.
  • FIG. 15 shows the pharmacokinetic profiles of the Z-ABD-Z polypeptide ZAZ3363 (SEQ ID NO:1244) in individual beagle dogs following oral administration. 150 mg of ZAZ3363 was administered as enteric coated capsules on day 0.
  • the following Examples disclose the development of novel Z variant molecules targeted to interleukin 17A (IL-17A) based on phage display technology.
  • the IL-17A binding polypeptides described herein were sequenced, and their amino acid sequences are listed in FIG. 1 with the sequence identifiers SEQ ID NO:1-1222.
  • the Examples further describe the characterization of IL-17A binding polypeptides and in vitro and in vivo functionality of said polypeptides.
  • Human IL-17A (hIL-17A Peprotech cat. no. 200-17; SEQ ID NO:1226) and murine IL-17A (mIL-17A Peprotech cat. no. 210-17; SEQ ID NO:1227) were biotinylated according to the manufacturer's recommendations at room temperature (RT) for 30 min using No-Weigh EZ-Link Sulfo-NHS-LC-Biotin (Thermo Scientific, cat. no. 21327) at a 20 ⁇ molar excess.
  • an albumin binding domain (abbreviated ABD and corresponding to GA3 of protein G from Streptococcus strain G148) is used as fusion partner to the Z variants.
  • the library is denoted Zlib006Naive.II and has a size of 1.5 ⁇ 10 10 library members (Z variants).
  • coli RRI ⁇ M15 cells (Ruther et al., (1982) Nucleic Acids Res 10:5765-5772) from a glycerol stock containing the phagemid library Zlib006Naive.II, were inoculated in 20 I of a defined proline free medium [3 g/l KH 2 PO 4 , 2 g/l K 2 HPO 4 , 0.02 g/l uracil, 6.7 g/l YNB (DifcoTM Yeast Nitrogen Base w/o amino acids, Becton Dickinson), 5.5 g/l glucose monohydrate, 0.3 g/l L-alanine, 0.24 g/l L-arginine monohydrochloride, 0.11 g/l L-asparagine monohydrate, 0.1 g/l L-cysteine, 0.3 g/l L-glutamic acid, 0.1 g/l L-glutamine, 0.2 g/l glycine,
  • the cultivations were grown at 37° C. in a fermenter (Belach Bioteknik, BR20). When the cells reached an optical density at 600 nm (OD 600 ) of 0.75, approximately 2.6 I of the cultivation was infected using a 10 ⁇ molar excess of M13K07 helper phage (New England Biolabs, cat. no. N0315S).
  • the cells were incubated for 30 min, whereupon the fermenter was filled up to 20 I with cultivation medium [2.5 g/l (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 ; 5.0 g/l Yeast Extract (Merck 1.03753.0500); 25 g/l Peptone (Scharlau 07-119); 2 g/l K 2 HPO 4 ; 3 g/l KH 2 PO 4 ; 1.25 g/l Na 3 C 6 H 5 O 7 .2 H 2 O; 0.1 ml/l Breox FMT30 antifoaming agent] supplemented with 100 ⁇ M isopropyl- ⁇ -D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) for induction of expression and with 50 ⁇ g/ml ampicillin, 12.5 ⁇ g/ml carbenicillin, 25 ⁇ g/ml kanamycin, 35 ml/l of 1.217 M M MgSO 4 and 10 ml of a trace element solution [129 mM FeCl 3 , 3
  • a glucose-limited fed-batch cultivation was started where a 600 g/l glucose solution was fed to the reactor (15 g/h in the start, 40 g/h at the end of the fermentation after 17 h).
  • the pH was controlled at 7.
  • Air was supplemented (10 l/min) and the stirrer was set to keep the dissolved oxygen level above 30%.
  • the cells in the cultivation were removed by tangential flow filtration.
  • the phage particles were precipitated from the supernatant twice in PEG/NaCl (polyethylene glycol/sodium chloride), filtered and dissolved in PBS and glycerol as described in Grönwall et al., supra. Phage stocks were stored at ⁇ 80° C. before use.
  • PEG/NaCl polyethylene glycol/sodium chloride
  • Exception 2 pre-selection was performed in cycles 1-3 by incubation of phage stock with Dynabeads® M-280 Streptavidin (SA beads, Invitrogen, cat. no. 11206D). Exception 3: all tubes and beads used in the selections were pre-blocked with PBS supplemented with 5% BSA and 0.1% Tween20. Exception 4: selections were performed in solution at RT and the time for selection was 200 min in the first cycle and 120 min in the following cycles. Exception 5: this was followed by catching of target-phage complexes on SA beads using 1 mg beads per 6.4 ⁇ g b-hIL-17A or b-mIL-17A. Exception 6: E.
  • coli strain XL1-Blue cells (Agilent Technologies, cat. no. 200268) grown in medium supplemented with 10 ⁇ g/ml tetracycline (exception 7) were used for infection.
  • Exception 8 tryptone yeast extract plates (15 g/l agar, 10 g/l tryptone water (Merck), 5 g/l yeast extract, 3 g/l NaCl, 2% glucose) supplemented with 0.1 g/l ampicillin and 0.01 g/l tetracycline were used for spreading of bacteria.
  • Exception 9 a 10 ⁇ excess of M13K07 helper phage compared to bacteria was allowed to infect log phase bacteria.
  • Track 1 was divided in the second to the fourth cycles, resulting in a total of four tracks (1-1 to 1-4) in cycle 2, five tracks (1-1-1 to 1-4-2) in cycle 3 and six tracks (1-1-1-1 to 1-4-2-1) in cycle 4.
  • the number of phage particles used for selections was about 2000 times the number of eluted phage particles in the previous cycle, but a higher amount was used in selection tracks 1-1, 1-1-1 and 1-1-1-1.
  • the Z variants were produced by inoculating single colonies from the selections into 1 ml TSB-YE medium supplemented with 100 ⁇ g/ml ampicillin and 0.1 mM IPTG in deep-well plates (Nunc, cat. no. 278752). The plates were incubated for 18-24 h at 37° C. Cells were pelleted by centrifugation, re-suspended in 400 ⁇ l PBST 0.05% and frozen at ⁇ 80° C. to release the periplasmic fraction of the cells. Frozen samples were thawed in a water bath and the freeze-thawing procedure was repeated six times. 400 ⁇ l PBST 0.05% was added to the thawed samples and cells were pelleted by centrifugation.
  • the final supernatant of the periplasmic extract contained the Z-variants as fusions to ABD, expressed as AQHDEALE-[Z#####]-VDYV-[ABD]-YVPG (SEQ ID NO:1314) (Grönwall et al., supra).
  • Z##### refers to individual 58 amino acid residue Z variants.
  • ELISA assays The binding of Z variants to human IL-17A was analyzed in ELISA assays.
  • Half-area 96-well ELISA plates (Costar, cat. no. 3690) were coated at 4° C. overnight with 2 ⁇ g/ml of an anti-ABD goat antibody (produced in-house) diluted in coating buffer (50 mM sodium carbonate, pH 9.6; Sigma, cat. no. C3041).
  • the antibody solution was poured off and the wells were washed in water and blocked with 100 ⁇ l of PBSC (PBS supplemented with 0.5% casein) for 1 to 3 h at RT.
  • the blocking solution was discarded and 50 ⁇ l periplasmic solutions were added to the wells and incubated for 1.5 h at RT under slow agitation.
  • PBST 0.05% was added instead of the periplasmic sample.
  • the supernatants were poured off and the wells were washed 4 times with PBST 0.05%.
  • 50 ⁇ l of b-hIL-17A at a concentration of 6.5 nM in PBSC was added to each well.
  • the plates were incubated for 1.5 h at RT followed by washes as described above.
  • Streptavidin conjugated HRP (Thermo Scientific, cat. no. N100) diluted 1:30,000 in PBSC, was added to the wells and the plates were incubated for 1 h.
  • 50 ⁇ l ImmunoPure TMB substrate (Thermo Scientific, cat. no. 34021) was added to the wells and the plates were treated according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
  • the absorbance at 450 nm was measured using a Victor 3 multi-well plate reader (Perkin Elmer).
  • the clones obtained after four cycles of selection were expanded in 96-well plates and screened for hIL-17A binding activity in ELISA. 42 Z variants were found to give a response of 4 ⁇ the blank control or higher (0.43-3.2 AU) against hIL-17A at a concentration of 6.5 nM. No response was obtained for the blank control.
  • This Example describes the general procedure for subcloning and production of His-tagged Z variants and Z variants in fusion with ABD, which are used throughout in characterization experiments below.
  • the DNA of respective Z variant was amplified from the library vector pAY02592.
  • a subcloning strategy for construction of monomeric Z variant molecules with N-terminal His 6 tag was applied using standard molecular biology techniques (essentially as described in WO2009/077175 for Z variants binding another target).
  • the Z gene fragments were subcloned into the expression vector pAY01448 resulting in the encoded sequence MGSSHHHHHHLQ-[Z#####]-VD (SEQ ID NO:1315).
  • the DNA of respective Z variant was amplified from the library vector pAY02592.
  • a PCR was performed using suitable primer pairs and the resulting gene fragments were cleaved with restriction enzymes Pstl and Accl and ligated into the expression vector pAY03362 digested with the same enzymes, resulting in an ABD fusion protein, wherein the ABD variant is PP013 (SEQ ID NO:1224).
  • the constructs encoded by the expression vectors were MGSSLQ-[Z#####]-VDSS-PP013 (SEQ ID NO:1316).
  • E. coli BL21(DE3) cells (Novagen) were transformed with plasmids containing the gene fragment of each respective IL-17A binding Z variant and cultivated at 37° C. in 800 or 1000 ml of TSB-YE medium supplemented with 50 ⁇ g/ml kanamycin.
  • each cell pellet was re-suspended in 30 ml of binding buffer (20 mM sodium phosphate, 0.5 M NaCl, 20 mM imidazole, pH 7.4) supplemented with Benzonase® (Merck) to a concentration of 15 U/ml. After cell disruption, cell debris was removed by centrifugation and each supernatant was applied on a 1 ml His GraviTrap IMAC column (GE Healthcare).
  • binding buffer (20 mM sodium phosphate, 0.5 M NaCl, 20 mM imidazole, pH 7.4
  • Benzonase® Merck
  • Contaminants were removed by washing with wash buffer (20 mM sodium phosphate, 0.5 M NaCl, 60 mM imidazole, pH 7.4 and the IL-17A binding Z variants were subsequently eluted with elution buffer (20 mM sodium phosphate, 0.5 M NaCl, 500 mM imidazole, pH 7.4).
  • each cell pellet was re-suspended in 30 ml TST-buffer (25 mM Tris-HCl, 1 mM EDTA, 200 mM NaCl, 0.05% Tween20, pH 8.0) supplemented with Benzonase® (Merck). After cell disruption by sonication and clarification by centrifugation, each supernatant was applied on a gravity flow column with 1 ml agarose immobilized with an anti-ABD ligand (produced in-house). After washing with TST-buffer and 5 mM NH 4 Ac pH 5.5 buffer, the ABD fused Z variants were eluted with 0.1 M HAc.
  • TST-buffer 25 mM Tris-HCl, 1 mM EDTA, 200 mM NaCl, 0.05% Tween20, pH 8.0
  • Benzonase® Merck
  • each supernatant was applied on a gravity flow column with 1 ml agarose immobilized
  • the buffer of the pool was exchanged to PBS (2.68 mM KCl, 137 mM NaCl, 1.47 mM KH 2 PO 4 , 8.1 mM Na 2 HPO 4 , pH 7.4) using PD-10 columns (GE Healthcare).
  • the ABD fused Z variants were purified on 1 ml EndoTrap® red columns (Hyglos) to ensure low endotoxin content.
  • Protein concentrations were determined by measuring the absorbance at 280 nm, using a NanoDrop® ND-1000 spectrophotometer and the extinction coefficient of the respective protein. The purity was analyzed by SDS-PAGE stained with Coomassie Blue and the identity of each purified Z variant was confirmed using LC/MS analysis.
  • the amount of purified protein from approximately 1-5 g bacterial pellet was determined spectrophotometrically by measuring the absorbance at 280 nm and ranged from approximately 5 mg to 20 mg for the different IL-17A binding Z variants. SDS-PAGE analysis of each final protein preparation showed that these predominantly contained the IL-17A binding Z variant. The correct identity and molecular weight of each Z variant were confirmed by HPLC-MS analysis.
  • NHDF Normal human dermal fibroblasts
  • IL-17A Normal human dermal fibroblasts
  • the assay was used to evaluate the blocking ability of IL-17A binding Z variants Z06260 (SEQ ID NO:1200), Z06282 (SEQ ID NO:1206) and Z06455 (SEQ ID NO:1214), alone or in fusion with ABD (PP013, SEQ ID NO:1224).
  • NHDF cells (Lonza, cat. no. CC-2511) were cultured in fibroblast basal medium (Lonza, cat. no. CC-3132) supplied with growth promoting factors (Lonza, cat. no. CC-5034). On the day before the experiment, 10 5 cells were seeded in 100 ⁇ l per well into 96-well culture plates (Greiner, cat.no. 655180). On the day of the experiment, dilutions of the IL-17A specific Z variants His 6 -Z06260, His 6 -Z06282 and His 6 -Z06455 were prepared in a separate 96-well plate.
  • the Z variants were titrated in three-fold steps from 3130 nM to 0.2 nM in medium containing 0.031 nM hIL-17A.
  • a standard curve of hIL-17A was also prepared (0.002-31 nM) as well as controls containing medium with 0.031 nM hIL-17A or medium alone.
  • the medium in the plate with the overnight cultured NHDF cells was discarded.
  • Test samples, standard curve samples and controls were transferred to the cell-containing plate.
  • the NHDF cells were stimulated for 18-24 hat 37° C. and the IL-6 content in the supernatants was subsequently quantified using the IL-6 specific ELISA described below.
  • NHDF cells were prepared as described above.
  • dilutions of the IL-17A specific Z variant constructs His 6 -Z06282, His 6 -Z06455, Z06260-ABD, Z06282-ABD and Z06455-ABD were prepared in a separate 96-well plate.
  • the Z variant constructs were titrated in four-fold steps from 780 nM to 0.2 nM in medium containing 0.031 nM IL-17A and 8 ⁇ M HSA. Preparation of a standard IL-17A curve and controls, as well as downstream analysis, was performed as described above.
  • 96-well half area plates (Costar, cat. no. 3690) were coated with the anti-IL-6 monoclonal antibody MAB206 (R&D systems) at a concentration of 4 ⁇ g/ml in PBS (50 ⁇ l/well) and incubated overnight at 4° C. On the next day, the plates were rinsed twice in tap water and blocked with PBS+2% BSA (Sigma) for 2 h. An IL-6 standard (R&D systems, cat. no. 206-IL-50), titrated in a 2-fold dilution series (0.2-50 ng/ml) and supernatants from the cell assay plate were added to the coated ELISA plates (50 ⁇ l/well) and incubated for 1.5 h at RT.
  • MAB206 monoclonal antibody
  • the plates were washed 4 times in an automated ELISA washer and 0.25 ⁇ g/ml (50 ⁇ l/well) of biotinylated anti-IL-6 polyclonal antibody (R&D systems, BAF206) was added. After incubation for 1 h, the plate was washed and 50 ⁇ l of streptavidin-HRP (Thermo Fisher, cat. no. N100) diluted 8000 times was added to each well. After one additional hour of incubation and subsequent washing, the plate was developed with 50 ⁇ l TMB (Thermo Fisher, cat. no. 34021) per well and the reactions were stopped with 50 ⁇ l 2M H 2 SO 4 .
  • Results from the first NHDF assay showed that all three Z variants His 6 -Z06260, His 6 -Z06282 and His 6 -Z06455 blocked IL-17A induced IL-6 production in a dose dependent manner ( FIG. 2A ).
  • the IC50 values were approximately 40-140 nM.
  • the NHDF assay was repeated with the same Z variants fused to ABD as well as inclusion of HSA in the assay to ascertain retained binding to the antigen when mimicking in vivo conditions.
  • ABD will bind to albumin and convey longer circulation half-life.
  • the results showed that all three binders in fusion with ABD blocked IL-17A induced IL-6 production equally well or better than the His 6 -tagged Z variants ( FIG. 2B ).
  • the IC50 values from the second assay are summarized in Table 3.
  • a maturated library was designed and constructed.
  • the library was used for selection of further IL-17A binding Z variants. Selections from maturated libraries are usually expected to result in binders with increased affinity (Orlova et al., (2006) Cancer Res 66(8):4339-48).
  • randomized single stranded linkers were generated using split-pool DNA synthesis, enabling incorporation of defined codons in desired positions in the synthesis.
  • the library was based on the sequences of the IL-17A binding Z variants identified as described in Example 1.
  • 13 variable positions in the Z molecule scaffold were biased towards certain amino acid residues, according to a strategy based on the Z variant sequences defined in SEQ ID NO:1200-1216.
  • a DNA linker was generated using split-pool synthesis containing the following 147 bp sequence ordered from DNA 2.0 (Menlo Park, Calif., USA): 5′-AA ATA AAT CTC GAG GTA GAT GCC AAA TAC GCC AAA GAA NNN NNN NNN GCG NNN NNN GAG ATC NNN NNN TTA CCT AAC TTA ACC NNN NNN CAA NNN NNN GCC TTC ATC NNN AAA TTA NNN GAT GAC CCA AGC CAG AGC TCA TTT A-3′ (SEQ ID NO:1248, randomized codons are denoted NNN), comprising a coding sequence for a partially randomized helix 1 and 2 in the corresponding amino acid sequence, flanked by restriction sites for Xhol and Sacl.
  • the theoretical distributions of amino acid residues in the new library including 13 variable Z positions (9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 17, 18, 24, 25, 27, 28, 32 and 35) in the Z molecule scaffold are given in Table 4.
  • the resulting theoretical library size
  • the library was amplified using AmpliTaq Gold polymerase (Applied Biosystems, cat. no. 4311816) during 12 cycles of PCR, and pooled products were purified with QIAquick PCR Purification Kit (QIAGEN, cat. no. 28106) according to the supplier's recommendations.
  • the purified pool of randomized library fragments was digested with restriction enzymes Xhol and Sacl-HF (New England Biolabs, cat. no. R0146L and cat. no. R3156M, respectively) and concentrated using the QIAquick PCR Purification Kit.
  • the product was subjected to gel electrophoresis using a preparative 2.5% agarose gel (Nuisieve GTC agarose, Cambrex, Invitrogen) and purified from said gel using QIAGEN Gel Extraction Kit (QIAGEN, cat. no. 28706) according to the supplier's recommendations.
  • a preparative 2.5% agarose gel Nuisieve GTC agarose, Cambrex, Invitrogen
  • QIAGEN Gel Extraction Kit QIAGEN, cat. no. 28706
  • the phagemid vector pAY02592 (essentially as pAffi1 described in Grönwall et al., supra) was restricted with the same enzymes, purified using phenol/chloroform extraction and ethanol precipitation.
  • the restricted fragments and the restricted vector were ligated in a molar ratio of 5:1 with T4 DNA ligase (Fermentas, cat. no. EL0011) for 2 h at RT, followed by overnight incubation at 4° C.
  • the ligated DNA was recovered by phenol/chloroform extraction and ethanol precipitation, followed by dissolution in 10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.5.
  • the resulting library in vector pAY02592 encoded Z variants each fused to an albumin binding domain (ABD) derived from streptococcal Protein G.
  • ABS albumin binding domain
  • the ligation reactions (approximately 160 ng DNA/transformation) were electroporated into electrocompetent E. coli ER2738 cells (Lucigen, Middleton, Wis., USA, 50 ⁇ l). Immediately after electroporation, approximately 1 ml of recovery medium (supplied with E. coli ER2738 cells) was added. The transformed cells were incubated at 37° C. for 60 min. Samples were taken for titration and for determination of the number of transformants. The cells were thereafter pooled and cultivated overnight at 37° C. in 1 l of TSB-YE medium, supplemented with 2% glucose, 10 ⁇ g/ml tetracycline and 100 ⁇ g/ml ampicillin.
  • the cells were pelleted for 15 min at 4,000 g and resuspended in a PBS/glycerol solution (approximately 40% glycerol). The cells were aliquoted and stored at ⁇ 80° C. Clones from the library of Z variants were sequenced in order to verify the content and to evaluate the outcome of the constructed library vis-à-vis the library design. Sequencing was performed as described in Example 1 and the amino acid distribution was verified.
  • Phage stock containing the phagemid library was prepared in a 20 l fermenter (Belach Bioteknik). Cells from a glycerol stock containing the phagemid library were inoculated in 10 l of TSB-YE supplemented with 1 g/l glucose, 100 mg/l ampicillin and 10 mg/l tetracycline. When the cells reached an optical density at 600 nm (OD 600 ) of 0.52, approximately 1.71 of the cultivation was infected using a 5 ⁇ molar excess of M13K07 helper phage.
  • the cells were incubated for 30 min, whereupon the fermenter was filled up to 10 l with complex fermentation medium [2.5 g/l (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 , 5.0 g/l yeast extract; 30 g/l tryptone, 2 g/l K 2 HPO 4 ; 3 g/l KH 2 PO 4 , 1.25 g/l, Na 3 C 6 H 5 O 7 .2 H 2 O; Breox FMT30 antifoaming agent 0.1 ml/1].
  • complex fermentation medium 2.5 g/l (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 , 5.0 g/l yeast extract; 30 g/l tryptone, 2 g/l K 2 HPO 4 ; 3 g/l KH 2 PO 4 , 1.25 g/l, Na 3 C 6 H 5 O 7 .2 H 2 O; Breox FMT30 antifoaming agent 0.1 ml/1].
  • the new library was designed based on a set of IL-17A binding Z variants with verified binding properties (Example 1 and 3).
  • the theoretical size of the designed library was 6.1 ⁇ 10 9 Z variants.
  • the library quality was tested by sequencing of 96 transformants and by comparing their actual sequences with the theoretical design. The contents of the actual library compared to the designed library were shown to be satisfactory. A maturated library of potential binders to IL-17A was thus successfully constructed.
  • the target proteins hIL-17A and mIL-17A were biotinylated as described in Example 1. Phage display selections, using the new library of Z variant molecules constructed as described in Example 4, were performed in four cycles against hIL-17A and mIL-17A essentially as described in Example 1, with the following exceptions. Exception 1: PBST 0.1% was used as selection buffer. At selection, fetal calf serum (FCS, Gibco, cat. no.10108-165) and human serum albumin (HSA, Albucult, Novozymes, cat. no. 230-005) were added to the selection buffer to a final concentration of 10% and 1.5 ⁇ M, respectively.
  • FCS fetal calf serum
  • HSA human serum albumin
  • Exception 2 a pre-selection step was performed in cycle 1 by incubating the phage stock with SA beads.
  • Exception 3 all tubes and beads used in the selection were pre-blocked with PBS supplemented with 3% BSA and 0.1% Tween20.
  • Exception 4 the time for selection was 140, 70, 60 and 50 min in cycles 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively.
  • Tracks 1-3 in cycle 1 were split in the second to fourth cycles, resulting in a total of six tracks (1-1 to 3-3) in cycle 2, six tracks (1-1-1 to 3-3-1) in cycle 3 and 24 tracks (1-1-1-la to 3-3-1-2b) in cycle 4. Washes were performed using PBST 0.1% for 1 min. However, for track 1-3 in cycle 3, one of the washes lasted for 10 min.
  • the target-phage complexes on SA beads from all tracks were divided in two equal parts. Bound phage particles from the first part were immediately eluted, while the second part was subjected to an overnight wash before elution of phage particles. The bound phage particles were eluted using two different procedures: 1) with glycine-HCl, pH 2.2, as in Example 1, or 2) 500 ⁇ l of 100 mM sodium phosphate, 150 mM sodium chloride, pH 5.5 and neutralization with 500 ⁇ l PBS.
  • Amplification of phage particles between selection cycle 1 and 2 was performed essentially as described in Example 1, with the following three exceptions.
  • Exception 1 E. coli ER2738 was used for phage amplification.
  • Exception 2 M13K07 helper phage were used in 5 ⁇ excess.
  • Exception 3 the amplification of phage particles between the selection cycles 2 and 4 was performed as follows: after infection of log phase E. coli ER2738 with phage particles, TSB supplemented with 2% glucose, 10 ⁇ g/ml tetracycline and 100 ⁇ g/ml ampicillin was added and followed by incubation with rotation for 30 min at 37° C. Next, the bacteria were infected with M13K07 helper phage.
  • the infected bacteria were pelleted by centrifugation, re-suspended in TSB-YE medium supplemented with 100 ⁇ M IPTG, 25 ⁇ g/ml kanamycin and 100 ⁇ g/ml ampicillin, and grown overnight at 30° C. The overnight cultures were centrifuged, and phage particles in the supernatant were precipitated twice with PEG/NaCl buffer. Lastly, phages were re-suspended in selection buffer before entering the next selection cycle.
  • log phase bacteria were infected with eluate and diluted before spreading onto TBAB plates (30 g/l tryptose blood agar base, Oxoid cat. no. CM0233B) supplemented with 0.2 g/l ampicillin in order to form single colonies to be used in ELISA screening.
  • Z variants Single colonies containing Z variants (expressed as Z variant ABD fusion proteins as described in Example 1) were randomly picked from the selected clones of the maturated library, and grown in cultivations essentially as described in Example 1. Preparation of the periplasmic supernatants and ELISA screenings were also performed essentially as described in Example 1 with the following two exceptions. Exception 1: biotinylated hIL-17A was used at a concentration of 0.4 nM. Exception 2: the periplasmic fraction of Z variant Z06282 (SEQ ID NO:1206) from the primary selection was used as a positive control.
  • IL-17A binding Z variants were subjected to an analysis of response against a dilution series of b-hIL-17A using ELISA as described above. Biotinylated target protein was added at a concentration of 6 nM and diluted stepwise 1:3 down to 8 ⁇ M. As a background control, the Z variants were also assayed with no target protein added. Periplasm samples containing the primary IL-17A binder Z06282 (SEQ ID NO:1206) were included as a positive control. Data were analyzed using GraphPad Prism 5 and non-linear regression, and EC50 values (the half maximal effective concentration) were calculated.
  • Selection was performed in a total of 24 parallel tracks containing four cycles each.
  • the different selection tracks differed in target concentration, target species origin (human IL-17A or murine IL-17A), selection time, wash conditions and the pH of the elution buffer. Clones originating from the selection tracks using only human IL-17 and elution at pH 2.2 were shown to have the best performance in ELISA screen.
  • Clones obtained after four selection cycles were produced in 96-well plates and screened for human IL-17A binding activity using ELISA. All randomly picked clones were analyzed. 494 of the 932 unique Z variants were found to give a response of 2 ⁇ the blank control or higher (0.15-2.0 AU) against hIL-17A at a concentration of 0.4 nM. Positive signals were shown for clones originating from all selection tracks. The blank controls had absorbances of 0.055-0.075 AU.
  • a subset of Z variants was selected based on the result of the ELISA screening experiment described above (absorbance over 1.25 AU) or based on variation in amino acid sequence, and subjected to a target titration in ELISA format.
  • Periplasm samples were incubated with a serial dilution of b-hIL-17A ranging from 6 nM to 8 ⁇ M.
  • a periplasm sample containing Z06282 (SEQ ID NO:1206) identified in the primary selection was included as a positive control. Obtained values were analyzed and the respective EC50 values were calculated (Table 6).
  • Example 4 a second maturated library was constructed essentially as described in Example 4. The library was used for selections of additional IL-17A binding Z variants.
  • the library was based on the sequences of IL-17A binding Z variants selected and characterized in Example 5.
  • the 13 positions in the Z molecule scaffold that were varied in the maturation library described in Examples 4 and 5 were biased towards certain amino acid residues, according to a strategy based on the Z variant sequences of the 37 top performing variants in the EC50 analysis (Table 6).
  • a DNA linker was generated using split-pool synthesis and ordered from DNA 2.0.
  • the theoretical distributions of amino acid residues in the new library including six variable amino acid positions (11, 14, 18, 25, 28 and 32) and seven constant amino acid positions (9, 10, 13, 17, 24, 27 and 35) in the Z molecule scaffold are given in Table 7.
  • the resulting theoretical library size is 3.9 ⁇ 10 6 variants.
  • the library was constructed essentially as described in Example 4 with the following exception: the cells were cultivated overnight in 0.5 I of TSB-YE medium, supplemented with 2% glucose, 10 ⁇ g/ml tetracycline and 100 ⁇ g/ml ampicillin.
  • Phage stock containing the phagemid library was prepared in shake flasks. Cells from a glycerol stock containing the phagemid library were inoculated in 0.5 I of TSB-YE medium, supplemented with 2% glucose, 10 ⁇ g/ml tetracycline and 100 ⁇ g/ml ampicillin. The cultivations were grown at 37° C. until OD 600 reached 0.6 and then approximately 83 ml of the cultivation was infected using a 5 ⁇ molar excess of M13K07 helper phage and incubated for 40 min at 37° C.
  • the cells in the cultivation were pelleted by centrifugation, dissolved in TSB-YE medium, supplemented with 100 ⁇ g/ml ampicillin, 25 ⁇ g/ml kanamycin and 0.1 mM IPTG and grown at 30° C. for 18 h. After cultivation, the cells were pelleted by centrifugation at 4,000 g and the phage particles remaining in the medium were thereafter precipitated twice in PEG/NaCl, filtered and dissolved in PBS and glycerol as described in Example 1. Phage stocks were stored at ⁇ 80° C. until use in selection.
  • the new library was designed based on a set of IL-17A binding Z variants with verified binding properties (Example 5).
  • the theoretical size of the designed library was 3.9 ⁇ 10 6 Z variants.
  • the library quality was tested by sequencing of 96 transformants and by comparing their actual sequences with the theoretical design. The contents of the actual library compared to the designed library were shown to be satisfactory. A maturated library of potential binders to IL-17A was thus successfully constructed.
  • the target protein hIL-17A was biotinylated as described in Example 1. Phage display selections, using the second maturated library of Z variant molecules constructed as described in Example 6, were performed against hIL-17A essentially as described in Example 5 with the following exceptions. Exception 1: selections were performed in solution or at solid phase in RT. Exception 2: the time for selection was 60 min, 10 min or 1 min in cycle 1 and 30 min, 4 min or 10 sec in cycles 2, 3 and 4. Selection in solution was followed by catching of target-phage complexes on SA beads as described in Example 1. Exception 3: during selection on solid phase, the target was caught on SA beads prior to selection.
  • Tracks 1-6 in cycle 1 were divided in the second to fourth cycles, resulting in total of seven tracks (1-1 to 6-1) in cycle 2, eight tracks (1-1-1 to 6-1-1) in cycle 3 and 16 tracks (1-1-1-1 to 6-1-1-1) in cycle 4. Washes were performed using PBST 0.1% during 1 min. However, one of the washes lasted for 15 min in tracks 2-1-1, 3-1-1 and 5-1-1 in cycle 3.
  • the target-phage complexes on SA beads from five of the tracks (1-1-1-1, 1-2-1-2, 3-1-1-1, 4-1-1-1 and 5-1-1-2) were divided in two equal parts. Bound phage particles from the first part were immediately eluted, while the second part was subjected to a wash during approximately 65 h before the elution of phage particles. The bound phage were eluted using glycine-HCl, pH 2.2, as described in Example 1.
  • Z variants Single colonies containing Z variants (expressed as Z variant ABD fusion proteins as described in Example 1) were randomly picked from the selected clones of the IL-17A second maturated library and grown in cultivations as described in Example 1. Preparation of the periplasmic supernatants and ELISA screenings were performed essentially as described in Example 1 with the following two exceptions. Exception 1: biotinylated hIL-17A was used at a concentration of 0.2 or 0.33 nM. Exception 2: the periplasmic fraction of Z variant Z10241 (SEQ ID NO:11), identified in selections from the first maturated library, was used as a positive control and the blank control was created by exchanging the periplasmic step with addition of PBST 0.05%.
  • IL-17A binding Z variants were subjected to an analysis of the response against a dilution series of b-hIL-17A using ELISA as described in Example 5. Biotinylated protein was added at a concentration of 10 nM and diluted stepwise 1:2 eight times followed by one 1:5 dilution down to 8 ⁇ M. As a background control, the Z variants were also assayed with no target protein added. A periplasm sample containing the previously maturated Z variant Z10241 (SEQ ID NO:11) was included as positive control. Data were analyzed using GraphPad Prism 5 and non-linear regression and EC50 values were calculated.
  • Selection was performed in a total of 16 parallel tracks containing four cycles each.
  • the selection tracks differed in target concentration, selection time, wash conditions and if the selection was performed in solution or on solid phase.
  • amino acid sequences of the 58 amino acid residues long Z variants are listed in FIG. 1 and in the sequence listing as SEQ ID NO:5-10, SEQ ID NO:17-27, SEQ ID NO:32-35, SEQ ID NO:64-66 and SEQ ID NO:520-1199.
  • the deduced IL-17A binding motifs extend from residue 8 to residue 36 in each sequence.
  • the amino acid sequences of the 49 amino acid residues long polypeptides predicted to constitute the complete three-helix bundle within each of these Z variants extend from residue 7 to residue 55.
  • Clones obtained after four selection cycles were produced in 96-well plates and screened for hIL-17A binding activity using ELISA. All randomly picked clones were analyzed. 704 of the 759 unique Z variants were found to give a response of 2 ⁇ the blank controls or higher (0.22-2.2 AU) against hIL-17A at a concentration of 0.2 or 0.33 nM. Positive signals were collected for clones originating from all selection tracks. The average response of the blank controls was 0.11 AU, based on a representative set of plates.
  • IL-17A binding Z variants were selected based on the result in the ELISA experiment described above (Z variants with absorbances over the response of the positive control Z10241, SEQ ID NO:11) and subjected to a target titration in ELISA format as described in Example 5. Obtained values were analyzed and their respective EC50 values were calculated (Table 9).
  • Purified His 6 -tagged Z variants were diluted to 0.5 mg/ml in PBS.
  • a CD spectrum at 250-195 nm was obtained at 20° C.
  • VTM variable temperature measurement
  • Tm melting temperature
  • the absorbance was measured at 221 nm while the temperature was raised from 20 to 90° C., with a temperature slope of 5° C./min.
  • a new CD spectrum was obtained at 20° C. after the heating procedure in order to study the refolding ability of the Z variants.
  • the CD measurements were performed on a Jasco J-810 spectropolarimeter (Jasco Scandinavia AB) using a cell with an optical path length of 1 mm.
  • 96-well half area plates (Costar, 3690) were coated overnight at 4° C. with hIL-17A at 1 ⁇ g/ml in PBS in a volume of 50 ⁇ l/well. On the day of analysis, the plate was rinsed twice in tap water and then blocked with PBS+2% BSA (Sigma) for 2 h.
  • Z10241 (SEQ ID NO:11) was used as a standard and was titrated in a 3-fold dilution series (300-0.005 ng/ml) and the other Z variants were added in four different dilutions to the coated ELISA plate (50 ⁇ l/well) and incubated for 1.5 h at RT.
  • the plate was washed 4 times in an automated ELISA washer and 2 ⁇ g/ml (50 ⁇ l/well) of a goat anti-Z antibody was added. After 1 h of incubation, the plate was washed and 50 ⁇ l of anti-goat IgG-HRP (DAKO) diluted 5000 times was added per well. The plate was developed after another 1 h incubation, washed with 50 ⁇ l TMB (Thermo Fisher, 34021) per well and the reaction was stopped with 50 ⁇ l 2 M H 2 SO 4 . The plates were read in a multi label reader (Victor 3 , Perkin Elmer).
  • kinetic constants (k on and k off ) and affinities (K D ) for human IL-17A were determined for 27 His 6 -tagged Z variants.
  • the hIL-17A was immobilized in the flow cell on the carboxylated dextran layer of a CM5 chip surface (GE Healthcare, cat. no. BR100012). The immobilization was performed using amine coupling chemistry according to the manufacturer's protocol and using HBS-EP (0.01 M HEPES pH 7.4, 0.15 M NaCl, 3 mM EDTA, 0.005% v/v surfactant P20, GE Healthcare, cat. no. BR100188) as running buffer.
  • HBS-EP was used as running buffer and the flow rate was 50 ⁇ l/min.
  • Kinetic constants were calculated from the sensorgrams using the Langmuir 1:1 model of BiaEvaluation software 4.1 (GE Healthcare).
  • the immobilization was performed using amine coupling chemistry according to the manufacturer's protocol and using HBS-EP as running buffer.
  • One flow cell surface on the chip was activated and deactivated for use as blank during analyte injections.
  • HBS-EP was used as running buffer and the flow rate was 50 ⁇ l/min.
  • the analytes, i.e. the Z variants were each diluted in HBS-EP running buffer to final concentrations of 4, 20, 100 and 500 nM and injected for 4 min. After 15 min of dissociation, the surfaces were regenerated with four injections of 10 mM HCl. The results were analyzed using the BiaEvaluation software.
  • the NHDF assay and quantification by the IL-6 specific ELISA was performed essentially as described in Example 3.
  • 5000 cells were seeded per well into a half area 96-well culture plates in 100 ⁇ l.
  • dilutions of 36 IL-17A specific Z variants were prepared in a separate 96-well plate.
  • the Z variants were titrated in three-fold steps from 4690 nM to 0.08 nM in medium containing 0.9 nM hIL-17A.
  • a standard curve of hIL-17A (6.2-0.0001 nM) was prepared, as well as controls containing medium with 0.9 nM hIL-17A or medium alone.
  • IL-17A is a homodimeric cytokine that possesses two receptor binding sites. It was speculated that a polypeptide comprising two moieties of an IL-17A binding Z variant of the present disclosure would block IL-17A more efficiently than a polypeptide comprising one such moiety.
  • This Example describes the general procedure for subcloning and production of polypeptides comprising two Z variants in fusion with the albumin binding domain variant PP013 (SEQ ID NO:1224) in the general format Z-[L1]-ABD-[L2]-Z where [L1] and [L2] are linkers separating the Z and ABD moieties.
  • Z06282 SEQ ID NO:1206
  • Z10241 SEQ ID NO:11
  • Z10532 SEQ ID NO:1
  • the DNA of Z06282 was amplified from the library vector pAY02592 by PCR using Pfu Turbo DNA polymerase (Agilent Technologies, cat. no. 600254) together with suitable primer pairs.
  • Pfu Turbo DNA polymerase Agilent Technologies, cat. no. 600254 together with suitable primer pairs.
  • the Z-[L1]-ABD-[L2]-Z constructs were generated by ligation of DNA encoding each moiety into the expression vector pET26b(+) (Novagen, Madison, Wis.) in three subsequent cloning steps using T4 DNA ligase (Fermentas, cat.no. EL0011).
  • DNA encoding the three moieties were separated by DNA encoding hybridized linkers with different number of repeats of (GGGGS) n , flanked by restriction enzyme sites.
  • the constructs encoded by the expression vectors were Z#####-[GAP-(G 4 S[SEQ ID NO:1301]) n -TS]P013-[GT-(G 4 S[SEQ ID NO:1301]) n -PR]-Z###########, where each n individually is 1-4, and as further specified in Table 13.
  • DNA encoding additional dimeric Z variants comprising Z06282 (SEQ ID NO:1206) but with a minimal linker [L1] were generated using standard molecular biology techniques.
  • the constructs encoded by the expression vectors were Z06282-VDGS(SEQ ID NO:1311)-PP013-GT-(G 4 S[SEQ ID NO:1301]) n -PR-Z06282 and as further specified in Table 14.
  • the Z-[L1]-ABD-[L2]-Z constructs were generated by ligation of each fragment into the expression vector pET26b(+) in three subsequent cloning steps using T4 DNA ligase. DNA encoding the three moieties were separated by linkers further modified by site-directed mutagenesis using standard molecular biology techniques.
  • constructs encoded by the expression vectors were Z####-[VDGS(SEQ ID NO:1311)]-PP013-[GT-G 4 S-PK (SEq ID NO:1317)]-Z#### and Z#####-[ASGS(SEQ ID NO:1312)]-PP013-[GT-G 4 S(SEQ ID NO:1306)]-Z#######, and as further specified in Table 14.
  • E. coli BL21(DE3) cells (Novagen) were transformed with plasmids containing the gene fragment of each respective Z-ABD-Z polypeptide and cultivated at 37° C. in 800 or 1000 ml of TSB-YE medium supplemented with 50 ⁇ g/ml kanamycin.
  • TST buffer 25 mM Tris-HCl, 1 mM EDTA, 200 mM NaCl, 0.05% Tween 20, pH 8.0
  • Benzonase® Benzonase®
  • Acetonitrile was added to eluted fractions to a final concentration of 10% and the samples were loaded on SOURCE 15RPC columns (GE Healthcare), previously equilibrated with RPC solvent A (0.1% TFA, 10% ACN, 90% water). After column wash with RPC solvent A, bound proteins were eluted with a linear gradient from RPC solvent A to RPC solvent B (0.1% TFA, 80% ACN, 20% water). Fractions containing pure Z-ABD-Z polypeptides were identified by SDS-PAGE analysis and pooled.
  • the buffer of the pool was exchanged to PBS (2.68 mM KCl, 137 mM NaCl, 1.47 mM KH 2 PO 4 , 8.1 mM Na 2 HPO 4 , pH 7.4) using Sephadex G-25 columns (GE Healthcare).
  • PBS 2.68 mM KCl, 137 mM NaCl, 1.47 mM KH 2 PO 4 , 8.1 mM Na 2 HPO 4 , pH 7.4
  • the Z-ABD-Z variants were purified on EndoTrap® red columns (Hyglos) to ensure low endotoxin content.
  • Protein concentrations were determined by measuring the absorbance at 280 nm, using a NanoDrop® ND-1000 spectrophotometer and the extinction coefficient of the respective protein. Purity was analyzed by SDS-PAGE stained with Coomassie Blue, and the identity of each purified Z-ABD-Z variant was confirmed by HPLC-MS analysis.
  • the IL-17A binding Z variants in fusion with ABD were expressed as soluble gene products in E. coli .
  • SDS-PAGE analysis of each final protein preparation showed that these predominantly contained the desired IL-17A binding Z-ABD-Z polypeptide.
  • the correct identity and molecular weight of each Z-ABD-Z polypeptide were confirmed by HPLC-MS analysis.
  • the solubility of three Z-ABD-Z polypeptides in physiological buffer was investigated by consecutive concentrations of the samples using ultrafiltration, followed by concentration measurements by absorbance readings at 280 nm and visual inspection of the samples.
  • the Z-ABD-Z polypeptides ZAZ3363 (SEQ ID NO:1244), ZAZ3364 (SEQ ID NO:1245) and ZAZ3422 (SEQ ID NO:1247) were diluted in PBS, pH 7.4, to 2.5 mg/ml.
  • 12 Amicon Ultra centrifugal filter units with a cut-off of 3 kDa (Millipore, cat. no. UFC800324) were prerinsed with PBS by centrifugation at 4000 g for 10 min in a swinging bucket rotor centrifuge. The concentrators were emptied, and 4 ml of each Z-ABD-Z polypeptide were added to a first set of three different centrifugal filter units.
  • Centrifugation was performed at 4000 g, 20° C., for 13-16 min, resulting in approximately 1 ml concentrate.
  • a 20 ⁇ l sample was removed from each concentrate (UF sample 1) for further analysis and the rest of the sample volumes were transferred to a second set of three centrifugal filter units. The centrifugation and sample removal were repeated three times with spinning times of 8-10 min, 7 min and 13 min, respectively, (UF samples 2, 3 and 4, respectively).
  • Z-ABD-Z polypeptides ZAZ3363 SEQ ID NO:1244
  • ZAZ3364 SEQ ID NO:1245
  • ZAZ3365 SEQ ID NO:1246
  • hIL-17A and cynomolgus monkey IL-17A cIL-17A, SEQ ID NO:1229, Evitria, custom order
  • ZAZ3220 SEQ ID NO:1236
  • rmIL-17-A SEQ ID NO:1230, Cusabio, cat. no. CSB-EP011597MOV
  • HSA was immobilized in the flow cell on the carboxylated dextran layer of a CM5 chip surface.
  • the immobilization was performed using amine coupling chemistry according to the manufacturer's protocol and using HBS-EP as running buffer.
  • the HSA immobilization levels on the surfaces were 953 RU (used for ZAZ3363, ZAZ3364 and ZAZ3365) and 493 RU (used for ZAZ3220), respectively.
  • One flow cell surface on the chip was activated and deactivated for use as blank during analyte injections.
  • HBS-EP was used as running buffer and the flow rate was 30 ⁇ l/min.
  • ZAZ3363, ZAZ3364 and ZAZ3365 were diluted in HBS-EP running buffer to a final concentration of 200 nM and injected for 5 min, followed by injections of the IL-17A variants.
  • ZAZ3220 was diluted in HBS-EP running buffer to a final concentration of 500 nM and injected for 4 min followed by injections of the IL-17A variants.
  • hIL-17A and cIL-17A were each diluted in HBS-EP running buffer to final concentrations of 2.5, 10 and 40 nM and injected for 5 min over surfaces with ZAZ3363, ZAZ3364 and ZAZ3365 captured on HSA. After 10 min of dissociation, the surface was regenerated with two injections of 10 mM HCl.
  • hIL-17A and rmIL-17A were diluted in HBS-EP running buffer to final concentrations of 0.1, 0.3, 0.9, 2.7, and 8.1 nM and 2.7, 8.1, 24.3, 72 and 216 nM, respectively, and injected for 6 min over surfaces with ZAZ3220 captured on HSA. After 5 min of dissociation, the surface was regenerated with two injections of 10 mM HCl. The results were analyzed using the BiaEvaluation software.
  • Binding of hIL-17A and cIL-17A to ZAZ3363, ZAZ3364 and ZAZ3365, and hIL-17A and rmIL-17A to ZAZ3220 were tested in a Biacore instrument by injecting the Z-ABD-Z polypeptides over a surface containing HSA followed by injections of the IL-17A variants. All tested Z variants showed binding to the tested IL-17A variants, i.e. ZAZ3363, ZAZ3364 and ZAZ3365 showed binding to human and cynomolgus monkey IL-17A ( FIG. 6 ) and ZAZ3220 to human and rhesus monkey IL-17A.
  • ZAZ3363 SEQ ID NO:1244
  • ZAZ3422 SEQ ID NO:1247
  • HSA and the ABD variant PEP07843 SEQ ID NO:1225, corresponding to PP013 (SEQ ID NO:1224) with an N-terminal extension of GSS were immobilized on a CM5 chip surface and a blank surface was prepared as described in Example 11.
  • the ligand immobilization levels on the surfaces were 1315 RU and 99 RU of HSA and PEP07843, respectively, for the chip used in ZAZ3363 runs, and 791 RU and 100 RU of HSA and PEP07843, respectively, for the chip used in ZAZ3422 runs.
  • HBS-EP was used as running buffer and the flow rate was 30 ⁇ l/min.
  • ZAZ3363 and ZAZ3422 were diluted in HBS-EP or HBS-EP supplemented with 500 mM NaCl to a final concentration of 200 nM and injected for 7 min followed by injections of the analytes.
  • the analytes i.e.
  • the panels of 24 or 12 different proteins were each diluted in HBS-EP or HBS-EP supplemented with 500 mM NaCl to final concentrations of from 0.4 to 250 nM and injected for 5 min. After 7 (ZAZ3363) or 10 (ZAZ3422) min of dissociation, the surfaces were regenerated with four (ZAZ3363) or five (ZAZ3422) injections of 10 mM NaOH and two injections of 10 mM HCl. The results were analyzed using the BiaEvaluation software.
  • ZAZ3363 and ZAZ3422 were tested in a Biacore instrument by investigating their interaction with 24 or 12 analyte proteins, respectively.
  • the Z-ABD-Z polypeptides were injected over surfaces containing HSA followed by injection of the analyte proteins.
  • the only interactions detected for ZAZ3363 and ZAZ3422 were strong binding by hIL-17A and weaker binding by hIL-17A/F, as expected and in line with the results presented in Example 8.
  • the analyte proteins were also assessed for their potential interaction with the ABD variant PEP07843, but no interactions were detected.
  • the Z-ABD-Z polypeptides appear to be highly specific.
  • Kinetic Exclusion Assay Kinetic Exclusion Assay
  • Z-ABD-Z polypeptides ZAZ3220 SEQ ID NO:1236), ZAZ3363 (SEQ ID NO:1244) and ZAZ3422 (SEQ ID NO:1247), as well as HSA (Novozymes, cat. no. 230-005), human IL-17A (Peprotech, cat. no. 200-17), biotinylated (as described in Example 1) human IL-17A, mouse monoclonal anti-HSA antibody (Abcam, cat. no. 10241) and an in house produced goat polyclonal anti-Z antibody were sent to Sapidyne Instruments Inc (Boise, Id., USA) who performed the KinExA® measurements and analysis.
  • K D the respective Z-ABD-Z polypeptide, in complex with HSA, were used as a constant binding partner (CBP) and IL-17A was used as titrant.
  • CBP constant binding partner
  • IL-17A IL-17A was used as titrant.
  • Data analysis was performed using the KinExA® Pro software and applying a least squares analysis to fit the optimal solutions for the K D and the Active Binding site Concentration (ABC) to a curve representative of a 1:1 reversible bi-molecular interaction.
  • the direct binding curve analysis was applied, using the same immobilized IL-17A as the capture reagent for kinetic experiments as for equilibrium experiments.
  • the amount of free Z-ABD-Z/HSA in the sample was measured pre-equilibrium, yielding data points that monitored the decrease in free Z-ABD-Z/HSA as the sample moved toward equilibrium.
  • the Z-ABD-Z polypeptide ZAZ3363 was further analyzed for binding to HSA in the presence or absence of IL-17A.
  • K D K D
  • ZAZ3363 free or in complex with IL-17A
  • CBP constant binding partner
  • HSA was used as titrant.
  • Data analysis was performed using the KinExA® Pro software as described above.
  • the direct binding curve analysis was applied, using the same immobilized HSA as the capture reagent for kinetic experiments as for equilibrium experiments.
  • the amount of ZAZ3363/IL-17A, in the sample was measured pre-equilibrium, yielding data points that monitored the decrease in free ZAZ3363/IL-17A as the sample moved toward equilibrium.
  • NHDF cells (Lonza, cat. no. CC-2511) were cultured in fibroblast basal medium (Lonza, cat.no CC-3132) supplied with growth promoting factors (Lonza, cat.no. CC-5034). On the day before the experiment, 5000 cells per well were seeded into half area 96 well culture plates (Greiner, cat. no. 675180) in 100 ⁇ l.
  • the Z-ABD-Z polypeptides were titrated in three-fold steps from 190 nM to 0.003 nM in medium containing 0.9 nM hIL-17A and 8 ⁇ M HSA.
  • a standard IL-17A curve was also prepared (6.2-0.0001 nM), as well as controls containing medium with 0.9 nM IL-17A or medium alone.
  • the medium in the plate with NHDF cells cultured overnight was discarded and 100 ⁇ l/well of the sample was transferred to the cell plate, which was placed in an incubator at 37° C. for 18-24 h. The next day, the IL-6 content in supernatants was quantified using IL-6 specific ELISA as described in Example 3.
  • ZAZ3363 SEQ ID NO:1244
  • ZAZ3364 SEQ ID NO:1245
  • ZAZ3365 SEQ ID NO:1246
  • ZAZ3422 SEQ ID NO:1247
  • Z-ABD-Z polypeptides were investigated for their capacity to block IL-17A induced IL-6 production in the NHDF assay.
  • the Z-ABD-Z format increased the blocking capacity significantly compared to the monomeric His 6 -Z format, as shown in FIG. 7A where inhibitory curves for His 6 -Z10241 and ZAZ3220 (comprising Z10241) are displayed.
  • the shape of the curve for ZAZ3220 suggests that the limit of detection for this cell assay is reached, with a one-to-one inhibition effect of the ZAZ3220, and it is likely that the Z-ABD-Z polypeptide has an even better inhibitory effect than can be appreciated from this experiment.
  • the potency of ZAZ3220 is increased to the assay limit due to the strong avidity effect obtained by binding the homodimeric IL-17A.
  • a comparison of Z-ABD-Z polypeptides with different linker lengths and comprising the Z variants Z06282 (SEQ ID NO:1206) and Z12876 (SEQ ID NO:1218) revealed that the length of the linker had a minor effect on the blocking capacity.
  • a set of Z-ABD-Z polypeptides comprising Z06282 with different linker lengths is displayed in FIG. 7B .
  • Human IL-17A is able to bind to and stimulate the mouse IL-17 receptor, leading to elevation and subsequent secretion of mouse KC (CXCL1) chemokine.
  • mice were sacrificed 2 h post administration of human IL-17A, and KC levels were determined by ELISA using a commercially available kit according to the manufacturer's instruction (KC Quantikine; R&D Systems, cat no. D1700).
  • ZAZ3220 was administered s.c. to mice at three different doses, 0.05, 0.1, 0.4 mg/kg, 9 h prior to a subcutaneous injection of human IL-17A.
  • the mice were sacrificed 2 h post administration of human IL-17A, and KC levels were determined by ELISA as above.
  • the assayed Z-ABD-Z polypeptides block the ability of human IL-17A to stimulate the mouse IL-17 receptor, leading to inhibition of an elevation of mouse KC, in a dose dependent manner.
  • ZAZ3174 at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg under the conditions described blocked the induction of KC completely, as shown in FIG. 8A .
  • the second experiment revealed that the Z-ABD-Z polypeptide ZAZ3220, comprising an affinity matured Z variant, blocked the IL-17A induced KC-response completely at a dose of 0.4 mg/kg ( FIG. 8B ). This corresponds to a 6-fold enhanced in vivo blocking effect compared to ZAZ3174. 72% inhibition was obtained with 0.1 mg/kg ZAZ3220.
  • This Example describes two separate experiments in which the pharmacokinetic parameters in rat were determined for two different Z-ABD-Z polypeptides following subcutaneous (s.c.) and/or intravenous (i.v.) injections.
  • Blood samples were collected from the tail vein of each rat at time points 0, 0.08, 0.5, 1, 3, 8, 24, 72, 120, 168, 216, 264, 336, 408, 456 and 504 h post i.v. administration or at time points 0, 0.08, 0.5, 1, 3, 8, 24, 72, 120 and 168 h post s.c. administration.
  • Serum was prepared from the blood samples and stored at ⁇ 20° C. until analysis. Quantification of ZAZ3220 and ZAZ3363 in serum from rats was performed using a PK-ELISA.
  • each Z-ABD-Z polypeptide was standard of each Z-ABD-Z polypeptide (titrated between 300 ng/ml and 3 ⁇ g/ml) and on each plate four controls of each Z-ABD-Z polypeptide diluted to concentration within the linear range of the assay. Standard and controls were diluted in assay matrix. The diluted standard, controls and samples were prepared in separate plates and transferred to the coated ELISA plates. The plates were incubated for 1.5 h at RT followed by 1.5 h incubation with a custom made detection rabbit anti-ABD Ig (4 ⁇ g/ml, CUV002) and 1 h incubation with donkey anti-rabbit IgG-HRP (Jackson Immunoresearch, cat. no. 711-035-152).
  • the reaction was developed with TMB (Thermo Fisher) and the development reaction was stopped after 15 min with 2 M H 2 SO 4 .
  • the absorbance was read at 450 nm in an ELISA reader (Victor 3 , Perkin Elmer).
  • the concentrations of the respective Z-ABD-Z variant in samples were calculated from the standard curve using GraphPad Prism5 and a four parameter logistic (4-PL) curve-fit.
  • the pharmacokinetic analysis was based on individual rat serum concentration versus time. Terminal half-life (T1 ⁇ 2) and bioavailability was estimated using Microsoft Excel and GraphPad Prism and applying a two compartment model.
  • FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B Mean serum concentration-time profiles of the Z-ABD-Z polypeptides ZAZ3220 and ZAZ3363 following single administrations of 1.2 mg/kg to SD rats are shown in FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B , respectively, and the calculated pharmacokinetic parameters using a two-compartment analysis are summarized in Table 20.
  • the estimated half-life (t1 ⁇ 2) was approximately 49 h for both ZAZ3220 and ZAZ3363 following i.v. administration.
  • the t1 ⁇ 2 for ZAZ3363 administrated s.c. was 45 h and the bioavailability was calculated to 45%.
  • Topical administration enables extremely high local drug concentrations with a minimal risk of systemic side effects.
  • concentration of a Z variant molecule and a control IgG was measured in the anterior chamber (aqueous humor), in the vitreous humor and in serum after four repeated topical dosings.
  • the Z variant Z10199 (SEQ ID NO:1217) derived from Z06282 (SEQ ID NO:1206) but starting AE was subcloned without any tag but with the C-terminal addition of amino acid residues VD. Expression was performed essentially as described in Example 2, and purification was carried out by anion exchange and reverse phase chromatography. The sample was buffer exchanged to PBS pH 7.2 and endotoxins were removed using an EndoTrap® red 10 column (Hyglos).
  • the concentration of Z10199 and ZAZ3174, respectively, in the collected samples was analyzed by a sandwich ELISA using an in-house produced polyclonal goat anti-protein Z immunoglobulin for capture, an in-house produced polyclonal rabbit anti-protein Z immunoglobulin as primary antibody and goat anti-rabbit IgG-HRP (Dako cat. no. P0448) as secondary antibody. Detection was performed by incubation with ImmunoPure TMB for 15 min at RT and the reaction was stopped by addition of 2 M H 2 SO 4 . Absorption at 450 nm was measured with the microplate reader Victor 3 . The concentration of Z10199 was calculated from a standard curve prepared with the same molecule and using GraphPad prism5 and a non-linear regression formula.
  • the concentration of IgG in the collected samples was analyzed by an IgG ELISA kit (Abcam 100547) and performed as described by the manufacturer, using a standard curve provided and analysis by non-linear regression as above.
  • FIG. 10 shows that both Z10199 and ZAZ3174 penetrated the eye after topical administration and was present in aqueous and vitreous humor at low nM concentrations.
  • the control IgG antibody was not detected in either aqueous or vitreous humor.
  • the serum samples could be regarded as negative for both the Z variant and IgG.
  • the Z variant molecules of the present disclosure may be delivered by this alternative route of administration, which is not available to antibodies, and a local effect that avoids systemic exposure may be achieved.
  • ZAZ3363 (SEQ ID NO:1244) was formulated in 1) OAF1: 0.12 M sodium chenodeoxycholate (Sigma, cat.no. C8261) and 0.12 M propyl gallate (Sigma, cat.no. P3130), pH 7.4; 2) OAF2: 50 mg/ml sodium caprate (Sigma, cat.no. 04151); or 3) 50 mM sodium phosphate (PBS), pH 7.0, at a concentration of 50 mg/ml (OAF1 and OAF2) or 100 mg/ml (PBS).
  • ZAZ3363 (SEQ ID NO:1244) formulated in OAF1, OAF2 or PBS was verified in the IL-17 dependent NHDF cell assay described in Example 14.
  • Carprofen 5 mg/kg and buprenorphine 0.05 mg/kg. Carprofen was administered once daily also on the two days following surgery. Additional doses of buprenorphine were administered when necessary.
  • Antibiotics enrofloxacin 0.3 mg/ml was administered in the drinking water during the recovery period (3-5 days), as well as during the experiment. To mask the bitter taste of enrofloxacin, one piece of sugar was added to 500 ml of drinking water. To ensure a maintained patency, the duodenal catheter was flushed daily with sterile water (0.2-0.5 ml).
  • the pharmacokinetic analysis was based on individual rat serum concentration versus time. Terminal half-life (T1 ⁇ 2) and bioavailability was estimated using Microsoft Excel and GraphPad Prism.
  • FIG. 11 shows the titration curves of OAF1 compared to PBS formulated ZAZ3363 ( FIG. 11A ) and OAF2 compared to PBS formulated ZAZ3363 ( FIG. 11B ).
  • the experiment showed that the activity of ZAZ3363 in the two formulations was identical to PBS, i.e. the biological activity of ZAZ3363 was not affected by the different excipients.
  • Ada monoclonal antibody adalimumab
  • the IL-17A targeting Z variant Z14253 (SEQ ID NO:1219) moiety was genetically fused, via a flexible 15 residue (GGGGS) 3 linker, to the C-termini of HC Ada or LC Ada , resulting in the complexes HC Ada -Z14253 and LC Ada -Z14253, respectively.
  • a schematic of the constructed complexes is shown in FIG. 13A .
  • the NHDF assay was performed essentially as described in Example 14, titrating the study samples HC Ada -Z14253 and LC Ada -Z14253 and their comparators in three-fold steps from 63 nM to 0.003 nM in a medium containing 0.9 nM rhIL-17A.
  • the comparators were ZAZ3363 (SEQ ID NO:1244), the anti-TNF antibody Ada, as well as a negative control Z variant Z04726 (SEQ ID NO:1223, targeting taq polymerase) recombinantly fused to the ABD variant PP013 (SEQ ID NO:1224) via a VDSS linker (denoted Z04726-PP013), as described in Example 2.
  • a standard IL-17A curve was also prepared (6.2-0.0001 nM) as well as controls containing medium with 0.9 nM IL-17A or medium alone.
  • the IL-6 content in supernatants was quantified using the IL-6 specific ELISA described in Example 3.
  • NHDF (Lonza, cat.no. CC-2511) cells were cultured in fibroblast basal medium (Lonza, cat.no. CC-3132) supplied with growth promoting factors (Lonza, cat. no CC-5034).
  • fibroblast basal medium Lionza, cat.no. CC-3132
  • growth promoting factors Lonza, cat. no CC-5034.
  • 5000 cells per well were seeded into a half area 96 well culture plates (Greiner, cat.no 675180) in 100 ⁇ l.
  • dilutions of HC Ada -Z14253 and LC Ada -Z14253 and the comparators described above were prepared in a separate 96-well plate.
  • the complexes and comparators were titrated in three-fold steps from 5 nM to 0.0007 nM in medium containing 0.1 nM human TNF (R&D Systems, cat. no. 2210-TA/CF) or a mixture of 0.05 nM and 0.1 nM rhIL-17A. Controls containing medium with 0.1 nM TNF or a mixture of 0.05 nM and 0.1 nM rhIL-17A or medium alone were also prepared. The medium in the plate with the overnight cultured NHDF cells was discarded and 100 ⁇ l/well of the sample was transferred to the cell plate. The plate was placed in an incubator at 37° C. for 18-24 h. The next day, the IL-8 content in supernatants was quantified using an IL-8 specific ELISA.
  • IL-8 was quantified by a DuoSet ELISA kit (R&D systems, cat. no. DY208). Half area plates (Costar, cat.no. 3690) were coated with the anti-IL-8 capture antibody, 4 ⁇ g/ml in PBS, 50 ⁇ l/well, overnight at 4° C. On the day of the analysis, the plate was rinsed twice in tap water and then blocked with PBS+1% BSA for 2 h. IL-8 standard (R&D Systems, cat.no.
  • the plate was developed after one additional hour's incubation and washing, with 50 ⁇ l TMB (Thermo Fisher, cat. no 34021) per well, and the reaction was stopped with 50 ⁇ l 2 M H 2 SO 4 .
  • the absorbances were read in a multi label reader (Victor 3 , Perkin Elmer).
  • HC Ada -Z14253 and LC Ada -Z14253 were studied with regard to their capacity to block IL-17A induced IL-6 production in the NHDF assay. Results from the NHDF assay are presented in FIG. 13B . Both HC Ada -Z14253 and LC Ada -Z14253 has a similar capacity to block IL-17A as ZAZ3363. As expected, no inhibition was seen for Ada or the negative control Z04726-PP013.
  • HC Ada -Z14253 and LC Ada -Z14253 were studied with regard to their capacity to block TNF or a mixture of TNF/IL-17A induced IL-8 production in the NHDF assay.
  • Results from the NHDF assay showed that HC Ada -Z14253 and LC Ada -Z14253 have similar inhibitory profiles as the anti-TNF antibody Ada with regard to specific TNF blocking capacity ( FIG. 13C ).
  • HC Ada -Z14253 and LC Ada -Z14253 had superior inhibitory profiles compared to Ada and ZAZ3363 in the combination assay, where the blocking effect to both TNF and IL-17 was investigated ( FIG. 13D ).
  • This Example describes a repeated dose study conducted over 10 days in cynomolgus monkeys administered with the Z-ABD-Z polypeptide ZAZ3363. The results were used for estimation of the half-life of ZAZ3363 in cynomolgus.
  • Plasma samples for determination of ZAZ3363 concentration were collected in connection with the first dose on day 1 (at time points 0 (pre-dose), 5 min, 0.5, 1, 2, 6, 24 and 48 h after administration) and last dose on day 10 (at time points 0 (pre-dose), 5 min, 0.5, 1, 2, 6, 24, 48 h, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14 and 21 days after administration).
  • Quantification of ZAZ3363 in plasma samples was carried out by LC-MS/MS based on peptides obtained after tryptic digestion of ZAZ3363. Concentration-time profiles were evaluated using both non-compartmental methods with separate analyses for day 1 and day 10 and compartmental methods evaluating the data for day 1 and day 10 combined for each animal.
  • FIG. 14A and FIG. 14B Mean plasma concentration-time profiles of ZAZ3363 following administration on day 1 and day 10 are shown in FIG. 14A and FIG. 14B , respectively.
  • the plasma concentrations decreased in two phases according to a two-compartment behavior.
  • the t1 ⁇ 2 of the second phase estimated from this and a second repeated dose study (data not shown) was approximately 4-7.5 days, which is in agreement with the reported t1 ⁇ 2 for monkey albumin (Deo et al., 1974, J Nutr 104:858-64). No significant gender differences were observed.
  • ZAZ3363 (SEQ ID NO:1244) was formulated in OAF1 (see Example 18) at a concentration of 100 mg/ml. The formulation was lyophilized and filled in hard shell capsules subsequently enteric coated (performed by Catalent Pharma Solutions, Beinheim, France). Each capsule contained approximately 25 mg ZAZ3363.
  • the concentration of ZAZ3363 in serum samples was quantified using a PK sandwich ELISA essentially as described in Example 16, but using an in-house produced monoclonal anti-Z IgG in the first coating step.
  • the individual dog serum concentrations versus time profiles of ZAZ3363 are shown in FIG. 15 .
  • the results showed intestinal uptake of ZAZ3363 in all three animals, but with some variation between individuals.
  • the ZAZ3363 serum concentration reached a maximum of 2-30 nM.
  • the serum levels of ZAZ3363 remains stable at least up to 96 h, which is ascribed the interaction with dog albumin of the ABD moiety PP013 (SEQ ID NO:1223) within ZAZ3363.
  • the ability of PP013 to bind dog albumin has been demonstrated previously (WO2012/004384).
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide comprising an IL-17A binding motif BM, which motif consists of an amino acid sequence selected from:
  • X 2 is selected from A, H, M and Y;
  • X 4 is selected from A, D, E, F, K, L, M, N, Q, R, S and Y;
  • X 6 is selected from A, Q and W;
  • X 7 is selected from F, I, L, M, V, W and Y;
  • X 10 is selected from A and W;
  • X 11 is selected from A, D, E, F, G, L, M, N, Q, S, T and Y;
  • X 16 is selected from N and T;
  • X 17 is selected from H, W and Y;
  • X 18 is selected from A, D, E, H and V;
  • X 20 is selected from A, G, Q, S and W;
  • X 21 is selected from A, D, E, F, H, K, N, R, T, V, W and Y;
  • X 25 is selected from A, D, E, G, H, I, L, M, N, Q, R, S, T and V;
  • X 26 is selected from K and 5
  • X 28 is selected from I, L, N and R;
  • X 29 is selected from D and R;
  • X 2 is selected from A, H and M;
  • X 4 is selected from A, D, E, F, L, M, N, Q, R and Y;
  • X 11 is selected from A, D, E, F, G, L, M, N, S, T and Y;
  • X 18 is selected from A, D, E and V;
  • X 20 is selected from A, G, Q and W;
  • X 21 is selected from E, F, H, N, R, T, V, W and Y;
  • X 25 is selected from A, D, E, G, H, I, L, N, Q, R, S, T and V;
  • X 28 is selected from I, N and R.
  • X 16 is T
  • X 17 is W
  • X 21 is selected from E, F, H, W, T and Y;
  • X 25 is selected from A, D, E, G, H, I, L, N, Q, R, S and T;
  • X 26 is K
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 4 wherein sequence i) fulfills at least seven of the eleven conditions I-XI.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 5 wherein sequence i) fulfills at least eight of the eleven conditions I-XI.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 8 wherein sequence i) fulfills all of the eleven conditions I-XI.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to any preceding item, wherein X 2 X 6 , X 2 X 10 or X 6 X 10 is AA.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to any preceding item, wherein X 2 X 17 , X 2 X 20 , X 6 X 17 , X 6 X 20 , X 10 X 17 or X 10 X 20 is AW.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to any preceding item, wherein X 2 X 28 , X 6 X 28 or X 10 X 28 is AR.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to any preceding item, wherein X 17 X 28 or X 20 X 28 is WR.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to any preceding item, wherein X 17 X 20 is WW.
  • sequence i) is the sequence from position 8 to position 36 in a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-1216.
  • sequence i) is the sequence from position 8 to position 36 in a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-66, 1200, 1206 and 1214.
  • sequence i) is the sequence from position 8 to position 36 in a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-66.
  • sequence i) is the sequence from position 8 to position 36 in a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-35.
  • sequence i) is the sequence from position 8 to position 36 in a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-27.
  • sequence i) is the sequence from position 8 to position 36 in a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-10.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 20, wherein sequence i) is the sequence from position 8 to position 36 in a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-7.
  • sequence i) is the sequence from position 8 to position 36 in a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-4.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 22, wherein sequence i) is the sequence from position 8 to position 36 in SEQ ID NO:1.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to any preceding item, wherein said IL-17A binding motif forms part of a three-helix bundle protein domain.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 24, wherein said IL-17A binding motif essentially forms part of two helices with an interconnecting loop, within said three-helix bundle protein domain.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 25 wherein said three-helix bundle protein domain is selected from bacterial receptor domains.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 26 wherein said three-helix bundle protein domain is selected from domains of protein A from Staphylococcus aureus or derivatives thereof.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to any preceding item, which comprises an amino acid sequence binding module, BMod, selected from:
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to any one of items 1-27, which comprises an amino acid sequence binding module, BMod, selected from:
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 28 or 29, wherein X a in sequence iii) or v) is A.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 28 or 29, wherein X a in sequence iii) or v) is S.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to any one of items 28-31, wherein X b in sequence iii) or v) is N.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to any one of items 28-31, wherein X b in sequence iii) or v) is E.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to any one of items 28-33, wherein X c in sequence iii) or v) is A.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to any one of items 28-33, wherein X c in sequence iii) or v) is S.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to any one of items 28-33, wherein X c in sequence iii) or v) is C.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to any one of items 28-36, wherein X d in sequence iii) or v) is E.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to any one of items 28-36, wherein X d in sequence iii) or v) is N.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to any one of items 28-36, wherein X d in sequence iii) or v) is S.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to any one of items 28-39, wherein X e in sequence iii) or v) is D.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to any one of items 28-39, wherein X e in sequence iii) or v) is E.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to any one of items 28-39, wherein X e in sequence iii) or v) is S.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to any one of items 37 and 39-42, wherein X d X e in sequence iii) or v) is selected from EE, ES, SD, SE and SS.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 43, wherein X d X e in sequence iii) or v) is ES.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 43 wherein X d X e in sequence iii) or v) is SE. 46. IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 43, wherein X d X e in sequence iii) or v) is SD.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to any one of items 28-46, wherein X f in sequence iii) or v) is A.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to any one of items 28-46, wherein X f in sequence iii) or v) is S.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 28 or 29, wherein, in sequence iii) or v), X a is A; X b is N; X c is A and X f is A.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 28 or 29, wherein, in sequence iii) or v), X a is S; X b is E; X c is A and X f is A.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 28 or 29, wherein, in sequence iii) or v), X a is A; X b is N; X c is C and X f is A.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 28 or 29, wherein, in sequence iii) or v), X a is S; X b is E; X c is S and X f is S.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 28 or 29, wherein, in sequence iii) or v), X a is S; X b is E; X c is S and X f is A.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 28 or 29, wherein, in sequence iii) or v), X a is S; X b is E; X c is A and X f is S.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 28 or 29, wherein, in sequence iii) or v), X a is S; X b is E; X c is C and X f is S.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 49, wherein, in sequence iii) or v), X a is A; X b is N; X c is A; X d X e is ND and X f is A.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 50, wherein, in sequence iii) or v), X a is S; X b is E; X c is A; X d X e is ND and X f is A.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 51, wherein, in sequence iii) or v), X a is A; X b is N; X c is C; X d X e is ND and X f is A.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 52, wherein, in sequence iii) or v), X a is S, X b is E; X c is S, X d X e is ND and X f is S.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 53, wherein, in sequence iii) or v), X a is S; X b is E; X c is S, X d X e is ND and X f is A.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 55, wherein, in sequence iii) or v), X a is S, X b is E; X c is C; X d X e is ND and X f is S.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 49, wherein, in sequence iii) or v), X a is A; X b is N; X c is A; X d X e is SE and X f is A.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 50, wherein, in sequence iii) or v), X a is S; X b is E; X c is A; X d X e is SE and X f is A.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 51, wherein, in sequence iii) or v), X a is A; X b is N; X c is C; X d X e is SE and X f is A.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 52, wherein, in sequence iii) or v), X a is S, X b is E; X c is S, X d X e is SE and X f is S.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 54, wherein, in sequence iii) or v), X a is S; X b is E; X c is A; X d X e is SE and X f is S.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 55, wherein, in sequence iii) or v), X a is S, X b is E; X c is C; X d X e is SE and X f is S.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 49, wherein, in sequence iii) or v), X a is A; X b is N; X c is A; X d X e is ES and X f is A.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 50, wherein, in sequence iii) or v), X a is S; X b is E; X c is A; X d X e is ES and X f is A.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 51, wherein, in sequence iii) or v), X a is A; X b is N; X c is C; X d X e is ES and X f is A.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 52, wherein, in sequence iii) or v), X a is S; X b is E; X c is S, X d X e is ES and X f is S.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 55, wherein, in sequence iii) or v), X a is S, X b is E; X c is C; X d X e is ES and X f is S.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 49, wherein, in sequence iii) or v), X a is A; X b is N; X c is A; X d X e is SD and X f is A.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 50, wherein, in sequence iii) or v), X a is S; X b is E; X c is A; X d X e is SD and X f is A.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 51, wherein, in sequence iii) or v), X a is A; X b is N; X c is C; X d X e is SD and X f is A.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 52, wherein, in sequence iii) or v), X a is S; X b is E; X c is S, X d X e is SD and X f is S.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 54, wherein, in sequence iii) or v), X a is S, X b is E; X c is A; X d X e is SD and X f is S.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 55, wherein, in sequence iii) or v), X a is S, X b is E; X c is C; X d X e is SD and X f is S.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 28 wherein said sequence iii) is the sequence from position 7 to position 55 in a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-1216.
  • sequence iii) is the sequence from position 7 to position 55 in a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-66, 1200, 1206 and 1214.
  • sequence iii) is the sequence from position 7 to position 55 in a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-66.
  • sequence iii) is the sequence from position 7 to position 55 in a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-35.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 82 wherein sequence iii) is the sequence from position 7 to position 55 in a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-27.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 83, wherein sequence iii) is the sequence from position 7 to position 55 in a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-10.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 84 wherein sequence iii) is the sequence from position 7 to position 55 in a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-7.
  • sequence iii) is the sequence from position 7 to position 55 in a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1-4.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 86, wherein sequence iii) the sequence from position 7 to position 55 in SEQ ID NO:1.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to any preceding item, which comprises an amino acid sequence selected from:
  • [BMod] is an IL-17A binding module as defined in any one of items 28-87;
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to any one of items 1-87, which comprises an amino acid sequence selected from:
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to any one of items 1-87, which comprises an amino acid sequence selected from:
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to any preceding item, which comprises an amino acid sequence selected from:
  • SEQ ID NO: 1250 ADNNFNK-[ BM ]-DPSQSANLLSEAKKLNESQAPK; 1251 ADNKFNK-[ BM ]-DPSQSANLLAEAKKLNDAQAPK; 1252 ADNKFNK-[ BM ]-DPSVSKEILAEAKKLNDAQAPK; 1253 ADAQQNNFNK-[ BM ]-DPSQSTNVLGEAKKLNESQAPK; 1254 AQHDE-[ BM ]-DPSQSANVLGEAQKLNDSQAPK; 1255 VDNKFNK-[ BM ]-DPSQSANLLAEAKKLNDAQAPK; 1256 AEAKYAK-[ BM ]-DPSESSELLSEAKKLNKSQAPK; 1257 VDAKYAK-[ BM ]-DPSQSSELLAEAKKLNDAQAPK; 1258 VDAKYAK-[ BM ]-DPSQSSELLAEAKKLNDAQAPK; 1259
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to any preceding item, which comprises an amino acid sequence selected from:
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 93, wherein sequence xiii) is selected from SEQ ID NO:1-66, 1200, 1206 and 1214.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 94, wherein sequence xiii) is selected from SEQ ID NO:1-66.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 95, wherein sequence xiii) is selected from SEQ ID NO:1-35.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 96 wherein sequence xiii) is selected from SEQ ID NO:1-27.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 97, wherein sequence xiii) is selected from SEQ ID NO:1-10.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 98, wherein sequence xiii) is selected from SEQ ID NO:1-7.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 99, wherein sequence xiii) is selected from SEQ ID NO:1-4.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 100, wherein sequence xiii) is SEQ ID NO:1.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to any one of items 1-91, which comprises an amino acid sequence selected from:
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 103, wherein sequence xv) is selected from SEQ ID NO:1218-1222.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 104 wherein sequence xv) is selected from SEQ ID NO:1219-1222.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 105, wherein sequence xv) is selected from SEQ ID NO:1219 and SEQ ID NO:1222.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to any preceding item, which is capable of binding to IL-17A such that the K D value of the interaction is at most 1 ⁇ 10 ⁇ 6 M, such as at most 1 ⁇ 10 ⁇ 7 M, such as at most 1 ⁇ 10 ⁇ 8 M, such as at most 1 ⁇ 10 ⁇ 6 M.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to any preceding item, which is capable of binding to an IL-17A molecule selected from the group consisting of human IL-17A and murine IL-17A.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 109, which is capable of binding to human IL-17A.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 109, which is capable of binding to murine IL-17A.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to any one of items 109-111, which is capable of binding to human IL-17A and to murine IL-17A. 113. IL-17A binding polypeptide according to any one of items 109, 110 and 112, wherein said human IL-17A comprises the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:1226 or an antigenically effective fragment thereof.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to any one of items 109, 111 and 112, wherein said murine IL-17A comprises the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:1227 or an antigenically effective fragment thereof.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to any preceding item which comprises additional amino acids at the C-terminal and/or N-terminal end.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 115, wherein said additional amino acid(s) improve(s) and/or simplify/simplifies production, purification, stabilization in vivo or in vitro, coupling or detection of the polypeptide.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to any preceding item in multimeric form, comprising at least two IL-17A binding polypeptide monomer units, whose amino acid sequences may be the same or different.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 117, wherein said IL-17A binding polypeptide monomer units are covalently coupled together.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to item 118, wherein the IL-17A binding polypeptide monomer units are expressed as a fusion protein.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide according to any one of items 117-119, in dimeric form.
  • Fusion protein or conjugate comprising
  • a second moiety consisting of a polypeptide having a desired biological activity.
  • Fusion protein or conjugate according to item 124 comprising two IL-17A binding polypeptides, each as defined in any one of items 1-116, with an albumin binding moiety between them.
  • Fusion protein or conjugate according to item 125 which is capable of binding to IL-17A such that the K D value of the interaction is at most 1 ⁇ 10 ⁇ 10 M, such as at most 1 ⁇ 10 ⁇ 11 M, such as at most 1 ⁇ 10 ⁇ 12 M, such as at most 1 ⁇ 10 ⁇ 13 M.
  • Fusion protein or conjugate according to item 123, wherein said binding activity is binding to an immune response associated factor, for example an inflammation-associated factor.
  • Complex comprising at least one IL-17A binding polypeptide according to any one of items 1-117 or at least one fusion protein or conjugate according to any one of items 121-135, and at least one antibody or an antigen binding fragment thereof.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate or complex according to any preceding item further comprising at least one linker, for example selected from the group consisting of non-peptidic linkers, flexible amino acid linkers, rigid amino acid linkers and cleavable amino acid linkers.
  • Fusion protein or conjugate according item 151 wherein said linker is arranged between said first moiety and said second moiety.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate or complex according any one of items 151-153, wherein said linker is a flexible linker comprising amino acid residues selected from the group consisting of glycine, serine and threonine.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate or complex according to item 154 wherein said linker comprises a sequence with a general formula selected from (G n S m ) p and (S n G m ) p , wherein, independently,
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate or complex according to item 155, wherein n 1-5.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate or complex according to item 159, wherein said linker comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of G 4 S, (G 4 S) 2 , (G 4 S) 3 and (G 4 S) 4 .
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate or complex according to any one of items 155-159, wherein said general formula is GT(G n S m ) p .
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate or complex according to item 164 wherein said label is selected from the group consisting of fluorescent dyes and metals, chromophoric dyes, chemiluminescent compounds and bioluminescent proteins, enzymes, radionuclides and particles.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate or complex according to any preceding item comprising a chelating environment provided by a polyaminopolycarboxylate chelator conjugated to the IL-17A binding polypeptide via a thiol group of a cysteine residue or an amine group of a lysine residue.
  • Expression vector comprising a polynucleotide according to item 168.
  • Host cell comprising an expression vector according to item 169.
  • composition comprising an IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate or complex according to any one of items 1-167 and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient or carrier.
  • Composition according to item 172 further comprising at least one additional active agent, such as an agent selected from the group consisting of therapeutically active polypeptides, immune response modifying agents, anti-inflammatory agents and toxic compounds.
  • additional active agent such as an agent selected from the group consisting of therapeutically active polypeptides, immune response modifying agents, anti-inflammatory agents and toxic compounds.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate or complex according to any one of items 1-167 or a composition according to any one of items 172-173 for oral, topical, intravenous, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, pulmonary, transdermal, intramuscular, intranasal, buccal, sublingual or suppository administration, such as for oral administration or such as for topical administration.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate, complex or composition for use according to item 175, wherein said polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate, complex or composition modulates IL-17A function in vivo.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate, complex or composition for use according to any one of items 175-176, wherein said polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate, complex or composition inhibits IL-17A signaling.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate, complex or composition for use according to any one of items 175-177, wherein said polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate, complex or composition blocks binding of IL-17A to at least one of its cognate receptors.
  • IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate, complex or composition for use according to any one of items 175-178, in the treatment, diagnosis or prognosis of an IL-17A associated condition.
  • cancer such as a cancer selected from the group consisting of gastric cancers, colorectal cancers, non-small cell lung cancers, hepatocellular carcinomas and adenocarcinomas.
  • Method of detecting IL-17A comprising providing a sample suspected to contain IL-17A, contacting said sample with an IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate or complex according to any one of items 1-167 or a composition according to any one of items 172-173, and detecting the binding of the IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate, complex or composition to indicate the presence of IL-17A in the sample.
  • Method for determining the presence of IL-17A in a subject comprising the steps:
  • Method according to item 187 further comprising a step of comparing said value to a reference.
  • Method of treatment of an IL-17A associated condition comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of an IL-17A binding polypeptide, fusion protein, conjugate or complex according to any one of items 1-167 or a composition according to any one of items 172-173.
  • Method according to item 192 wherein said IL-17A associated condition is selected from the group consisting of inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases and cancer.
  • Method according to item 193, wherein said IL-17A associated condition is selected from the group consisting of inflammatory diseases and autoimmune diseases.
  • Method according to item 194, wherein said IL-17A associated condition is selected from the group consisting of inflammatory conditions, allergic conditions, hypersensitivity reactions, autoimmune diseases, severe infections and transplant rejections.
  • IL-17A associated condition is selected from the group consisting of rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, uveitis and dry eye disease.

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